Semiconductor memory

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor memory comprises a capacitor with a data storage portion, and an insulated-gate field-effect transistor. The capacitor is formed by a plate which is made up of the side walls and base of a groove formed in a semiconductor substrate, and by a capacitor electrode formed on the side walls and the base, over an insulation film, and which is connected electrically to the source or drain of the insulated-gate field-effect transistor. Various embodiments are provided for reducing size and preventing leakage between other memory cells, including forming stacked capacitors, forming the transistor over the capacitor, using a silicon-over-insulator arrangement for the transistor, forming a common capacitor plate and providing high impurity layers within the substrate.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 452,683 filed Dec. 19, 1989abandoned, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 934,556 filedNov. 24, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,128, which is acontinuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 548,844 filedNov. 4, 1983 now abandoned, Ser. No. 820,839 filed Jan. 22, 1986abandoned, Ser. No. 780,601 filed Sep. 26, 1985 abandoned, Ser. No.640,515 filed Aug. 13, 1984 abandoned and Ser. No. 686,599 filed Dec.26, 1984 abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory, and inparticular to a one-transistor dynamic MOS memory which enables anincrease in memory capacity without increasing the space required, andwhich is suitable for increasing memory size.

Each memory cell of a DRAM consists of a storage capacitor and aswitching MISFET. The storage capacitor is constructed of a capacitor ofthe MIS type. Concretely, it is constructed of a semiconductorsubstrate, an insulator film which is formed on the semiconductorsubstrate, and a capacitor electrode which is formed on the insulatorfilm and to which a predetermined voltage is applied. Charges in aquantity corresponding to the information of "1" or "0" are stored in aninversion layer which is formed within the semiconductor substrate underthe capacitor electrode having the predetermined voltage appliedthereto.

The memory size of MOS dynamic memories quadrupled in the approximatelythree years after a 1K-bit dynamic random access memory (hereinafterreferred to as a DRAM) was first developed early in the 1970's. 16-pinDIPs (dual-in-line packages) are namely used for accommodating memorychips, but this imposed a limitation on the size of the cavity forinserting the chips. Therefore, the size of the memory chip hasincreased by approximately 1.4 times, despite the fact that the degreeof integration has quadrupled. (Since large quantities of DRAMs areused, it is necessary to curb any increase in the size of chips, if onlyfrom the standpoint of cost.) Therefore, the area of memory cell per bitof one storage unit is greatly reduced, i.e., is reduced to aboutone-third, owing to the quadrupled degree of integration. The capacity Cof a semiconductor memory is expressed by C=εA/T_(i) (where s is thepermeability of the insulator, A the capacitor area, and T_(i) theinsulator thickness). Therefore, if the area A is reduced to one-third,the capacity C decreases to one-third so long as ε and T_(i) remain thesame. The signal quantity S of a memory capacitor changes in proportionwith the charge quantity Qs stored, and the charge quantity Qs is aproduct of the capacity C and a memory voltage Vs. Therefore, the chargequantity Qs decreases with a decrease in the capacitor area A, and thesignal quantity S decreases correspondingly.

If noise voltage is denoted by N, the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio)decreases with a decrease in the signal quantity S, raising a problemwith regard to the operation of the circuit. Usually, therefore, adecrease in the capacitor area A is compensated for by decreasing theinsulator thickness T_(i). Therefore, as the degree of integration ofDRAMs increases from 4K bits, to 16K bits, to 64K bits, the typicalthickness T_(i) of the SiO₂ film used as the insulator graduallydecreases from 100 nm, to 75 nm and then to 50 nm, respectively.

Recently it has been confirmed that the amount of noise generated in asilicon substrate by alpha-particles radiated from radioactive heavymetals (such as U, Th, etc.) within the package becomes unacceptable ifthe electric charge is less than 200 fC (femtocoulombs). In order tomaintain reliability in operation, therefore, it is not possible toreduce the signal quantity, i.e., the electric charge, below about 200fC.

Because of these reasons, therefore, attempts have been made to reducethe thickness of the insulator further, raising a problem with regard tothe dielectric breakdown of the insulator. The SiO₂ film which isusually used as the insulator of the capacitor has a dielectricwithstand electric field of a maximum of 10⁷ V/cm. Therefore, a 10 nmthick SiO₂ film will break down permanently, or be degraded, when avoltage of 10 volts is applied Using such a device close to its maximumdielectric withstand electric field invites a serious problem withregard to its long-term reliability, even if it does not break downpermanently in short-term usage.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the construction of a one-transistor DRAM memorycell which consists of a capacitor 1 for storing electric charge, and aswitching MOS transistor 2. The drain of the switching MOS transistor isconnected to a bit line 3, and its gate is connected to a word line 4.

This memory cell is operated by reading out the signal charge stored inthe capacitor 1 by the switching MOS transistor 2. In practice, theconstruction of a large-scale integrated memory is formed of a memoryarea by methods which can be roughly divided into the two describedbelow.

FIG. 2 shows the so-called "open-bit line" construction in which bitlines 3-1 and 3-2 are arrayed on either side of a sense amplifier 5which amplifies signals in a differential manner. In this construction,only one bit line, 3-1, electrically crosses one word line 4-1, and thedifference in signals between the bit line 3-1 and the bit line 3-2 isdetected by the sense amplifier 5.

FIG. 3 illustrates the so-called "folded-bit line" construction in whichtwo bit lines 3-1 and 3-2 connected to the sense amplifier 5 are arrayedin parallel, so that one word line 4-1 intersects both bit lines 3-1 and3-2.

Various embodiments of the present invention described below pertainchiefly to the folded-bit line construction. The invention describedregarding these embodiments, however, can also be adapted to theopen-bit line construction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, if the stray capacitance of a stray capacitor6 of the bit line 3-2 is denoted by C_(D) and the capacity of capacitor1-2 of the memory cell by C_(S), one of the main figures of merit of thememory array is expressed by C_(S) /C_(D). The S/N ratio of the memoryarray corresponds exactly to C_(S) /C_(D). To improve the S/N ratio,furthermore, it is important to increase the capacity of the capacitorof the memory cell, and reduce the stray capacitance C_(D) of the bitline 3.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the construction of a memory cell of thefolded-bit line type, and FIG. 5 is a section thereof taken along theline A--A' of FIG. 4. As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, a capacitor isformed in a portion of an active region which is surrounded by a fieldoxidation film 11 of a thickness of usually more than 100 nm. The activeregion 7 is covered by a plate 8, but the plate 8 is selectively removedfrom the portion where a switching transistor will be formed and fromthe portion of contact hole 9 through which the bit line 3 will beconnected to a drain 15 on the silicon substrate (region 80 in FIG. 4).Word lines 4-1 and 4-2 are attached in this portion to form, the gatesof the switching transistors 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

One method of forming a semiconductor memory of this type is describedbelow. For ease of comprehension, the transistor described here is ofthe n-channel type. To form a p-channel transistor, the conductivitytypes of the silicon substrate and of the diffusion layer should beopposite to those of the n-channel transistor.

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line A--A' of FIG. 4.

In the conventional memory cell shown in FIG. 5, a field SiO₂ film 11 isformed selectively to a thickness of usually 100 to 1000 nm on a p-typesilicon substrate 10 having a resistivity of about 10 ohm -cm, by theso-called LOCOS method using a thermal oxidation mask composed of Si₃N₄. The plate 8 is deposited selectively thereon, the plate 8 beingcomposed of polycrystalline silicon doped with phosphorus or arsenicions. The surface of the polycrystalline silicon plate 8 is thenoxidized to form a first intermediate oxide film 13. The word line 4-1is deposited, the word line 4-1 being composed of polycrystallinesilicon, molybdenum silicide, or a refractory metal (molybdenum ortungsten), followed by the implantation of phosphorus or arsenic ions.Thus, N⁺ -type diffusion layers 15 are formed in the active regionswhere no plate 8 or word line 4-1 is deposited, to form the source anddrain of the switching MOS transistor 2. Thereafter, PSG(phospho-silicate glass) containing phosphorus is deposited to athickness of 200 to 1000 nm by the so-called CVD method to form a secondintermediate insulator 14, a contact hole 9 is formed in the place wherethe bit line 3-2 indicated by an aluminum electrode is to be connectedto the diffusion layer 15, and the bit line 3-2 is selectivelydeposited.

In the thus-formed memory cell, the area occupied by the region 16 ofthe capacitor 1 acting as the memory capacitor inevitably decreases witha decrease in the size of the memory cell. Unless the thickness of thegate oxide film 12 is reduced, therefore, the capacity C_(S) decreasesto raise a serious problem concerning memory operation.

In the above description, the same SiO₂ insulation film 12 lies beneaththe plate 8 and the word line 4-1 (i.e., the gate of the switching MOStransistor 2). When it is desired to increase the capacity C_(S) of thememory cell, however, the insulation film beneath the plate 8 can beformed to have a one- to three-layer construction using either SiO₂ orSi₃ N₄, or both.

The solve the above problems, a memory has been proposed by one of theinventors of the present application, in which a narrow groove is formedin the silicon substrate, and a capacitor that acts as the memorycapacitor is formed on the surfaces of the groove (Japanese PatentApplication No. 50-53883 filed May 7, 1975 and laid open as JapaneseKokai No. 51-130178 on Nov. 12, 1976).

In this previously proposed memory, the side and bottom surfaces of thegroove are utilized as the electrode surfaces of the capacitor,providing the advantage that the electrode area is considerablyincreased without increasing the space required, compared with thememory of the construction shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. More specifically,this storage capacitor element is of MIS (i.e., metal insulatorsemiconductor) type and is composed of moats (which are also called"U-shaped grooves") formed to extend inward from one main surface of thesemiconductor substrate, an insulating film formed to extend along thosemoats, and a capacitor electrode formed to cover said insulating film.On the other hand, the switching transistor is constructed of aninsulated gate type field effect transistor (which will be abbreviatedas "MISFET"), which is specifically composed of a source region and adrain region formed in the semiconductor substrate at a spacing fromeach other, and a gate electrode formed through the insulating film overthe semiconductor substrate between said source region and said drainregion. However, it should be noted that in this arrangement, thecharges are stored in a depletion layer and an inversion layer withinthe semiconductor substrate, and this can cause problems with regard tohigh-density integration. Specifically, the memory cell of this typecannot exclude the influence of minority carriers appearing due toalpha-particles or minority carriers injected from a peripheral circuitportion, etc. Insofar as the charges are stored in the depletion layerand the inversion layer, the quantity of charges fluctuates due to theminority carriers. Accordingly, the occupying area of a storagecapacitor cannot be made smaller than a certain value. Since theinfluence of the minority carriers increases more in a place deeper fromthe surface of a semiconductor substrate, deepeninq a trench is not veryeffective. The unnecessary minority carriers drop the voltage, which isheld in the depletion layer of the storage capacitor, to invert the "0"information to the "1" information thereby to cause the erroneousoperations (or the software errors) of the information readingoperations. In order to obtain a predetermined charge storage for copingwith the unnecessary minority carriers caused by the alpha-rays,moreover, the depth of the pores is limited so that the integration ofthe DRAM cannot be significantly improved.

Moreover, with the memory cells of the specified type, it is impossibleto make small an isolation region for electrically isolating theadjacent memory cells. The reason is that, since the depletion layersand inversion layers of the capacitors of the adjacent memory cells needto be prevented from coupling, the distance between the memory cellscannot be made smaller than a certain value. In case of employing afield oxide film as the isolation region, the problem of bird's beak isalso involved. Meanwhile, the depletion layer couples to the depletionlayer of the adjacent trench more easily in the deep part of the trenchthan in the shallow part thereof. For this reason, the distance betweenthe trenches cannot be made smaller than a certain value.

Some of the inventors of the present invention have also proposedanother memory (U.S. application Ser. No. 465,341). This earlier U.S.application discloses a semiconductor memory which is provided with acapacitor formed by utilizing a groove formed in the semiconductorsubstrate, and an insulated-gate field-effect transistor, and whichprevents the depletion layer extending from the groove, as well as aprocess of manufacturing the memory. In that device, a layer 24 isdiffused into the substrate walls of the groove to be used as acapacitor electrode for contacting the source or drain of the FET (seeFIG. 24). Another electrode 8 formed in the groove is coupled to ground.The device and method proposed in this related U. S. patent applicationmake it possible to increase the degree of integration of asemiconductor integrated circuit. To further increase the degree ofintegration of a semiconductor integrated circuit, however, it isnecessary to provide a semiconductor device which is capable ofproducing a desired storage capacity even if the space required by thememory cell is further decreased. Also, it is desired to limit noise toa greater extent than is done in this earlier U.S. application sincesuch noise becomes more of a problem as the device size is decreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor memorywhich has a capacitor with good characteristics, and which requires onlya small space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method whichenables the area of a capacitor to be maintained or increased withoutreducing the thickness of the insulation film, even when the memory cellis small, yet overcoming the serious problems such as thealpha-particles induced disturbances that arise with a decrease in sizeof a memory cell, while maintaining a high S/N ratio and breakdownvoltage.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the leakage ofcharges between the storage capacitors of the adjacent memory cells of aDRAM.

Yet another object of the present invention is to lengthen the dataretention time of the storage capacitors of a DRAM, thereby making itpossible to enhance the operating speed of the DRAM.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to form a highlyintegrated plurality of dynamic memory cells using pores for forming thecapacitors wherein possible contact between the lower plate of thecapacitor and the source or drain regions of the switching MISFET isavoided.

In order to achieve these objects, the feature of the present inventionlies in the following. According to the present invention, the sidewalls of a groove formed in a grounded silicon substrate are used as aplate, and an electrode laid in the groove over an insulation film isused as a main part of the capacitor electrode to contact the source ordrain of the FET; i.e., the electrode area is increased withoutincreasing the space required. Thus, the thickness of the insulationfilm is reduced to obtain a desired capacity without causing anybreakdown or degradation of the insulation film. Also, the structure hasreduced noise because, unlike the aforementioned U.S. application Ser.No. 465,341, the capacitor electrode coupled to the FET is isolated fromthe substrate.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a first electrode,which is formed on a semiconductor substrate and which constitutes astorage capacitor, is electrically connected with one semiconductorregion of a MISFET, and a semiconductor region which is identical in theconductivity type to the semiconductor substrate and higher in theimpurity concentration than the same is employed as a second electrodewhich constitutes the storage capacitor. The storage capacitor storescharges serving as information, principally in an accumulation layer. Adepletion layer is narrowed or removed, and an inversion layer isprevented from developing. The degree of influence of unnecessaryminority carriers attributed to alpha-particles or injection from aperipheral circuit portion is reduced, and adjacent memory cells areelectrically isolated by the semiconductor region.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, theswitching MISFET of the memory cell is arranged over the capacitorelement. By electrically connecting a first conductive plate forming thestorage capacitor element with one semiconductor region of the MISFET,by constructing a second conductive plate forming a part of the storagecapacitor element by the use of a layer formed in a semiconductorsubstrate, and by arranging the MISFET over said storage capacitorelement, this storage capacitor element is stored with charges for theinformation. Due to the fact that it is not necessary to have either awide depletion layer or a wide inversion region, moreover, it ispossible to prevent the leakage phenomena between the storage capacitorelements, to reduce the influences of the alpha-rays and the unnecessaryminority carriers generated by the injection from the peripheralcircuits, and to reduce the area necessary for the MISFET thereby toeffect the desired high integration. Also, since the MISFET is arrangedover the capacitor rather than aside of it, there is no danger of thelower capacitor plate contacting the source or drain of the MISFET.

The present invention will be described on its structure in detail inconnection with the embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional memory cell;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a method of using the conventional memorydevice;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of another method of using the conventionalmemory device;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conventional memory cell;

FIG. 5 is a section through the conventional memory cell;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section through the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are sections illustrating the manufacture steps accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a section through another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a section through a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a section view through a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 illustrates capacitor electrodes of various shapes;

FIG. 15 is a section through a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 16 and 17 show gate configurations for FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a section through a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a graph comparing the storage capacitances of the sixthembodiment of the present invention and the example of the prior art;

FIG. 20 is a section through a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21 is a section through an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 22 is a section through a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a section through a tenth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 24A is a plan view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24B is a plan view of a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 25A to 25E are sections illustrating the manufacture stepsaccording to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 26 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrative of the essentialportions of the memory cell array of a DRAM for explaining furtherembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 27A is a plan view of the essential portions of a DRAM memory cellin an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27B is a sectional view taken along line II--II in FIG. 27A;

FIGS. 28A and 28B are graphs for elucidating the principle of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 29A, 30A, 31A, 32A and 33A are plan views of the essentialportions of the DRAM memory cell at the manufacturing steps of the DRAMshown in FIGS. 27A and 27B;

FIGS. 29B, 30B, 31B, 32B and 33B are sectional views taken alongcutting-plane lines indicated in FIGS. 29A, 30A, 31A, 32A and 33A,respectively;

FIG. 30C is a plan view showing the manufacturing step of a memory cellarray in the DRAM of FIGS. 27A and 27B;

FIG. 34A is a plan view of the essential portions of a memory cell in aDRAM which is a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34B is a sectional view taken along line IX--IX in FIG. 34A;

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the essential portions of a schematic memorycell array in the DRAM shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B;

FIGS. 36A and 37A are plan views of the essential portions of the DRAMmemory cell at the manufacturing steps of the DRAM shown in FIGS. 34Aand 34B;

FIGS. 36B and 37B are sectional views taken along cutting-plane linesindicated in FIGS. 36A and 37A, respectively;

FIGS. 38, 39 and 40 are plan views of the essential portions of a memorycell array at the manufacturing steps of a DRAM which is a thirteenthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41A is a plan view of the essential portions of a memory cell in aDRAM which is a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41B is a sectional view taken along line XVI--XVI in FIG. 41A;

FIGS. 42A, 43A, 45A, 46A, 47A and 48A are plan views of the essentialportions of the memory cell at the various manufacturing steps of theDRAM shown in FIGS. 41A and 41B;

FIGS. 42B, 43B, 45B, 46B, 47B and 48B are sectional views taken alongcutting-plane lines indicated in FIGS. 42A, 43A, 45A, 46A, 47A and 48A,respectively;

FIG. 44 is a plan view showing an intermediate state in themanufacturing process of the DRAM shown in FIGS. 41A and 41B;

FIG. 49A is a plan view of the essential portions of a memory cell in aDRAM which is a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 49B is a sectional view taken along line XXIV--XXIV in FIG. 49A;

FIG. 50 is a plan view of the essential portions of a schematic memorycell array in the DRAM shown in FIGS. 49A and 49B;

FIGS. 51, 52 and 53 are plan views showing the manufacturing steps of aDRAM which is a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 54 is a diagram of an equivalent circuit showing the essentialportion of the memory cell array of the DRAM for explaining theseventeenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55A is a top plan view showing the essential portion of the DRAMmemory cell for explaining the structure of the seventeenth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 55B is a sectional view taken along line XX--XX of FIG. 55A;

FIGS. 56A, 57A, 58A, 59A and 60A are top plan views showing theessential portions of the DRAM at the respective fabrication steps forexplaining the fabrication method of the seventheenth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 56B, 57B, 58B, 59B and 60B are sectional views taken along the cutlines of (A) of the corresponding figures;

FIG. 61 is a top plan view showing the essential portion of theschematic memory cell array for explaining the seventeenth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 62A is a top plan view showing the essential portion of the DRAMmemory cell for explaining the structure of the eighteenth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 62B is a sectional view taken along line XXVII--XXVII of FIG. 62A;

FIGS. 63A, 64A and 65A are top plan views showing the essential portionsof the DRAM memory cell at the respective fabrication steps forexplaining the fabrication method of the eighteenth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 63B, 64B and 65B are sectional views taken along the cut lines of(A) of the corresponding figures;

FIG. 66 is a top plan view showing the essential portion of theschematic memory cell array for explaining the eighteenth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 67A is a top plan view showing the essential portion of the DRAMmemory cell for explaining the structure of the nineteenth embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 67B is a sectional view taken along line XXXII--XXXII of FIG. 67A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, as described above, a memory isprovided which has a capacitor constructed within a groove formed in thesubstrate in a memory capacitor portion thereof which capacitor has anincreased capacity without requiring an increased space, and which ishardly affected at all by external noise.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an embodiment according to the presentinvention. The difference between this embodiment and the conventionalmemory cell of FIG. 4 is in the particular manner in which the capacitoris formed. Specifically, a resistance layer with a small resistivitywhich has the same conductivity type as that of the silicon substrate isformed in the side wall of a groove 17 engraved in the silicon substrate10 to be used as a plate 8. Also, an electrode laid in this groove isused as a capacitor electrode 19.

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line A--A' of FIG. 6. In FIGS. 6 and7, reference numeral 3-2 denotes a bit line, 4-1 and 4-3 word lines, 8 aplate, 10 a p-type silicon substrate, 13 a first intermediate insulationfilm, 14 a second intermediate insulation film, 15 an n-type diffusionlayer, 17 a groove, 18 a capacitor insulation film, and 19 a capacitorelectrode. The substrate 10, and thus the plate 8, are coupled to groundwhile the capacitor electrode 19 is coupled to the source or drain 15 ofthe FET.

With this construction, the side and bottom surfaces of the groove 17can be utilized as the capacitor. Therefore, the capacity is increasedwithout increasing the space required. Also, because the capacitorelectrode 19 coupled to the FET is isolated from the substrate, noiseintroduced into the substrate will not adversely affect storedinformation.

The steps of manufacturing the semiconductor memory of the invention aredescribed below in detail. First, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a fieldoxide film 11 is formed by the LOCOS method over the p-type, siliconsubstrate 10 which has a resistivity of 1 to 20 ohms-cm, and a groove 17of the desired size is formed by parallel-plate plasma etching using agas containing fluorine or chlorine, such as SF₆ or CCl₄. The groove isusually etched to a depth of 1 to 5 μm. For this purpose, the pattern ofthe groove is first transferred onto a CVD SiO₂ film using an ordinaryphotoresist, and the groove 17 is formed using the CVD SiO₂ film as amask. Thereafter, the p⁺ -type layer 8 of the same conductivity type asthat of the silicon substrate, and which has a conductivity of less thanone ohm-cm, is formed over the side walls and base of the groove by thewell-known diffusion method, or the like, to form the plate 8. As shownin FIG. 9, a capacitor insulation film 18 such as a single layer of SiO₂or Si₃ N₄, or a composite layer thereof, or one of Ta₂ O₅, is deposited.A capacitor electrode connection hole 20 is formed at a predeterminedplace in the capacitor insulation film 18 so as to extend to the siliconsubstrate 10, and a capacitor electrode 19 of polycrystalline silicon isdeposited over the predetermined place so that it is connected to thesilicon substrate 10 through the connection hole 20. The groove 17 canbe filled with polycrystalline silicon 19, as shown in FIG. 9, providedthat the polycrystalline silicon 19 has a thickness which is more thanone-half the distance between the inner walls of the groove 17. Toimpart an electrical conductivity, phosphorus or arsenic ions are addedto the polycrystalline silicon 19, so that an n⁺ -type diffusion layer15 is formed within the silicon substrate 10.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the polycrystalline silicon 19 is oxidized bydry or wet oxidation at between 800° to 1100° C. to form the firstintermediate insulation film 13 which is between 100 to 200 nm thick.The gate oxide film 12 is formed to a thickness of between 10 to 50 nmin the area where the switching MOS transistor 2 will be formed, and agate (word line 4) of polycrystalline silicon, molybdenum silicide,molybdenum, or tungsten, is deposited thereon. Arsenic ions are thenimplanted to form the n⁺ -type diffusion layer 15.

Thereafter, the second intermediate insulation film 14 of, for example,CVDPSG is deposited, a contact hole 9 is formed so as to come intocontact with the n⁺ -type diffusion layer 15, and the bit line 3 of, forexample, aluminum is deposited.

Accordingly, the capacitor 1 is made up of the capacitor insulation film18 and two electrodes, i.e., the capacitor electrode 19 and the plate 8on either side of the capacitor insulation film 18. When the plate 8 isp-type, the same as that of the silicon substrate 10, the capacitorelectrode 19 has a positive potential. Therefore, the concentration ofthe p-type impurities must be sufficiently high that the surface of theplate 8 is not depleted at the maximum potential to thus avoid formationof an inversion layer. In another embodiment of the present invention inwhich the plate 8 is n-type, the surface of the plate 8 accumulates evenwhen the capacitor electrode 19 has a positive potential so that thereis no problem. When the plate 8 is n-type, n⁺ -type layers are formed ina separate manner in the vicinities of grooves 17 shown in FIG. 6; i.e.,the n⁺ -type layers must be connected. In such a case, therefore, use ismade of an n-type silicon substrate 10, as shown in FIG. 11, and ap-type epitaxial layer 21 is formed over the surface thereof, so thatthe separately-formed plates 8 are all connected to the n-type siliconsubstrate 10. The silicon substrate is at ground potential and is hardlyaffected at all by noise voltages. To manufacture the device, thesilicon substrate 10 with the deposited epitaxial layer 21 should beused instead of the silicon substrate of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to10.

FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. In theprevious embodiments, the capacitor 1 is formed between the capacitorelectrode 19 and the plate 8. According to this embodiment, however, thecapacitor is further formed by depositing a second plate 22 over thefirst intermediate insulation film 13. In this case, a capacitor isadded to the capacitor formed by the plate 8, thus providing a capacitorwith a larger capacity. The second plate 22, which is at groundpotential, acts as a shield for the capacitor electrode 19, to make adevice which is less susceptible to noise.

In the above embodiments, the switching MOS transistor 2 is formed onthe surface of the silicon substrate 10 or the epitaxial layer 21. FIG.13 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention where thisis not the case.

As described already for the previous embodiments, the capacitorinsulation film 18 is deposited and then a single crystalline siliconfilm is formed, thereby forming an SOI (silicon-on-insulator)construction which includes places that will become the capacitorelectrode 19 and the diffusion layer 15 in subsequent steps. Namely, apolycrystalline or amorphous silicon film is deposited over the wholesurface, or over part of the surface, and the whole or part of thesurface is heated by a laser beam or by a heater, so that amonocrystalline layer 23 grows on the insulation film after the siliconfilm melts, or with the silicon film maintained in the solid phase.Although not shown in FIG. 13, the monocrystallization takes placeeasily if a piece of silicon film or SOI construction is brought intocontact with the silicon substrate 10.

Thereafter, a gate oxide film 12 and a gate 4 deposited on the SOI layer23, followed by the formation of an n⁺ -type layer, so that one sideacts as the capacitor electrode 19 and the other side as the diffusionlayer 15 connected to the bit line 3. The subsequent steps are the sameas those of the previous embodiments. In this embodiment, no switchingtransistor 2 is formed on the silicon substrate 10; i.e., the substrate10 may be of any conductivity type. That is, if the substrate 10 isn-type, the silicon substrate 10 itself acts as a plate, and so there isparticular need to provide the plate 8.

A dynamic memory, in general, has peripheral circuits with variousfunctions formed around the memory cell, and it is difficult to make thewhole of the silicon substrate 10 n-type. In this case, however, theplate 8 can be provided so that only the portion of the memory cell needbe n-type.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 13 does not employ a second plate, it ispossible to provide the second plate 22 used in the embodiment of FIG.12.

In these embodiments of the present invention, the groove 17 has asimple rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 6. Capacity increases with anincrease in the surface area of the capacitor electrode 19 facing theplate 8. As shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C, therefore, the capacitorcan be increased to more than that of a simple rectangular shape, whilemaintaining the same space. That is, the capacity can be increased byforming the groove 17 in a comb shape, as shown in FIG. 14A; or byforming two or more small grooves, as shown in FIG. 14B; or by formingan annular groove 17, as shown in FIG. 14C.

The above embodiments are selected from many processes that enable awide variety of selections. Therefore, individual steps can be replacedby others in a variety of ways. In all the embodiments, however, thecommon point remains that the side walls of the groove formed in thesubstrate are utilized as a capacitor part.

In the above embodiments, the word line 4 has the form of a continuousgate within a memory cell array. It is, however, also possible to formpolycrystalline silicon transfer gates of switching transistors that arenot continuous, but are separate between memory cells, and connect thegates by the word line 4 using new contact holes. This makes it possibleto achieve a high switching speed by using polycrystalline silicon gateswhich have heretofore been evaluated for their reliability, and byutilizing the advantage of the low resistance of aluminum for the wordline 4.

As described earlier, the gist of the present invention resides in thatthe side walls of a groove engraved in a substrate are utilized as acapacitor part. Therefore, the gist of the present invention is notimpaired even when a laminated capacitor such as the second plate 22composed of a polycrystalline - silicon layer, Si₃ N₄ film, andpolycrystalline silicon layer, which has heretofore been known, isformed over the surface of the substrate except for the groove, and evenwhen the thus-formed capacitor is connected in parallel to the capacitorformed by the side walls to increase the capacity Cs.

Moreover, the switching transistor can be formed in an SOI layerparallel to the silicon substrate, as shown in FIG. 13. On the otherhand, as shown in FIG. 15, it is possible to form a transistor channel24 in the vertical direction within the SOI layer 23. Specifically, inFIG. 15, the regions 15 are actually coupled together (although this isnot shown in this sectional view) to form either the source or drain ofthe FET. The capacitor electrode 19 serves as the other source of drainregion, with a vertical channel being formed between regions 15 and 19through the SOI layer 23. The gate electrode 4 could be, for example, abolt type, as shown in FIG. 16, a T-plate type, as shown in FIG. 17, oranother suitable shape for forming the vertical transistor. The verticaljunction transistor can be adapted to every kind of memory cell whichemploys SOI.

As described in the beginning, the invention deals with the use of ann-channel MOS transistor. To form a p-channel transistor, impurities ofthe opposite conductivity type should be used. Namely, the phosphorus orarsenic ions should be replaced with boron or aluminum ions, and theboron ions should be replaced by phosphorus, arsenic, or antimony ions.

The invention is described above in detail by way of embodiments. Thatis, when a switching transistor is formed on the surface of a substrate,the capacity Cs can be increased two to three fold while maintaining thesame required space, compared with that of a conventional memory cell.When the switching transistor is formed in an SOI layer, the capacity Cscan be increased to several times that of a conventional memory cell. Inpractice, the groove does not have a perfectly rectangularcross-section, but is rounded to some extent. Further, an intendedsquared shape may often become circular due to a decrease in theresolution of lithography in fine portions. Even in this case, however,the capacity CS decreases by only 10 to 20%.

The probability of the erroneous operation of a dynamic memory due toalpha particles is reduced by more than 10 times by an increase incapacity Cs of 10%. Therefore, an increase in the capacity Cs by morethan twofold helps, not only to improve the reliability of a memory ofthe same scale, but also to realize a large-scale memory.

In the semiconductor memory of the present invention, furthermore, pairsof electrons and positive holes generated in large amounts by alphaparticles within the silicon substrate seldom flow into the capacitorelectrode 19 owing to its construction. With a semiconductor memoryemploying SOI, in particular, pairs of electrons and positive holes arenot able to enter the capacitor electrode 19. Accordingly, thesemiconductor memory according to the present invention is very stableagainst alpha particles.

Next, the present invention will be described in the following inconnection with its further embodiment with reference to FIG. 18. Thisembodiment is directed to a one-transistor dynamic MOS memory cell,which is featured by the fact that the charge storage node 19 is enabledto have the capacitance of three kinds of electrodes so that it can havea storage capacitance twice as large as that of the prior art. Thefollowing description relates to an N-channel memory cell for purposesof explanation. Conversely for a P-channel type, the followingconductivity type may be reversed from N to P. The charge storage node19 is made of polycrystalline silicon, for example, and is connected,while being formed in the groove, to one N⁺ -type diffusion layer 15 ofthe cell switching MOS transistor 4. The one storage capacitance C_(S1)is the depletion capacitance between the charge storage node 19 and theP-type epitaxial layer 21. This capacitance is smaller than theremaining capacitances C_(S2) and C_(S3) because it is usuallyappropriate to set the concentration of the epitaxial layer 21 at avalue substantially equal to the substrate concentration of 10¹⁴ to 10¹⁶cm⁻³ of the ordinary N-channel MOSLSI. Next, the capacitance C_(S2) isthat between the charge storage node 19 and the highly doped P⁺ - or N⁺-type substrate and can be deemed as a capacitance equivalent to thatbetween the metal layers through the thin insulation film 18 (which mayhave a single- or multi-layer construction). Moreover, the capacitanceC_(S3) is that between the charge storage node 19 and thepolycrystalline electrode 22, for example, through another insulationfilm 13 which may also have single- or multi-layer construction, andwhich is equivalent to that between the metal layers like thecapacitance C_(S2). If the structure and the capacitances of thesubstrate itself are thus made, as shown in FIG. 18, the capacitance perunit required space can be increased to a value twice as large as thatof the aforementioned structure of the prior art.

In FIG. 18, the memory operates in the following way. To write data ; avoltage at a high or low level is applied to the selected one of thealuminum data lines 3 which intersect the word lines, or gate electrodes4, at right angles. Then, the selected word line or gate electrode 4 isgoes high to turn the switching MOS transistor ON, said switchingtransistor being composed of the N⁺ -type diffusion layer 15, the gateinsulator 12 and the gate electrodes 4. The data of the data line 3 flowfrom an N⁺ -type diffusion layer or drain 23 through the channel to theN⁺ -type diffusion layer or source 15. The data further flow from the N⁺-type diffusion layer 15 into the charge storage node 19. After this,the switching transistor goes OFF so that the data stored in the chargestorage node 19 are held.

The data reading operation is conducted, in contrast to the above, bydetecting the minute voltage change of the data line, when the switchingtransistor is ON, by means of a high performance amplifier. The elementseparating film 11 and the intermediate insulation film 14 are made of asilicon oxide film by the conventional LOCOS method or a silicon oxidefilm which may contain phosphor (P) by the CVD method.

The detail comparison in the storage capacitance between structures ofthe present embodiment and the prior art is shown in FIG. 19. In FIG.19, the storage capacitances against the groove depth d are a comparisonbetween the present structure (as indicated by a curve I) and theconventional structure (as indicated by a curve II). In the structure Iaccording to the present structure, a larger storage capacitance can beobtaiend than with the conventional structure for the large groove depthd. The substrate structure of FIG. 18 can be realized by making use of aPonP⁺ -type epitaxial substrate, for example. It is evident that simplyusing the above-specified epitaxial substrate from the conventionalstructure accomplishes nothing. This is because the inversion layer isnot formed in the P⁺ -type layer so that storage capacitance cannot beestablished.

The insulation films 18 and 13 forming the capacitances can be made of athin SiO₂, Si₃ N₄ or Ta₂ O₅ film or their composed film. Morespecifically, the insulation films are made of SiO₂ /Si₃ N₄ or SiO₂ /Ta₂O₅ in the case of the two-layer structure and SiO₂ /Si₃ N₄ /SiO₂ or SiO₂/Ta₂ O₅ /SiO₂. From the intermediate characteristics, it is desired thatthe layer or SiO₂ be formed at the side of the single crystallinesubstrate (i.e., at the lower side of the insulation film 18). Moreover,a better result is obtained if the Si₃ N₄ and Ta₂ O₅ of the CVD methodare used as the insulation films, that is, as the upper side of theinsulation film 18 and the two sides of the insulation film 13, lyingover the polycrystalline silicon.

FIG. 20 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. Thisembodiment is not essentially different from that of FIG. 18 butexemplifies the fact that the gate line 30 of the switching transistorcan be arranged over the capacitor portion. This structure is essentialfor the foregoing folded-bit line structure shown in FIG. 3. In thiscase, an intermediate insulation film 130 is indispensable. Thisintermediate insulation film 130 may be the thermally oxidized film ofthe second plate electrode 22. The same reference numerals as those inFIG. 18 indicate the same or equivalent portions.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 21. Thisembodiment is characterized in that the surface of the P⁻ -typesubstrate region 21 contacting the groove is formed with animpurity-doped region 41 of the same conductivity type having a slightlyhigher concentration that the P⁻ -type region 21 (i.e., of the order ofabout 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) so as to increase the capacitance C_(S1). Since thedepletion layer thickness inversely proportional to the depletioncapacitance is inversely proportional to the root of the impurityconcentration of the region 41, the capacitance C_(S1) can be tripled ifthe impurity concentration of the P⁻ -type region 21 is set to 10¹⁶ cm⁻³whereas the concentration of the region 41 is set at 10¹⁷ cm⁻³, so thatthe overall charge storage capacitance can be further increased. Theregion 41 can be formed by implanting a P-type of impurity such as boron(B) to diffuse into the groove after the groove has been etched. Thesame reference numerals appearing in FIG. 21 as those of FIG. 18indicate the same or equivalent portions.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 22. Inthis embodiment, the electrode 19 to be stored with the charges issuperposed on the gate electrode 4 of the cell switching MOS transistor(hereafter called the switching transistor) so that the storagecapacitance to be formed between the electrodes 19 and 22 is furtherincreased. In FIG. 22, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 18indicate the same or equivalent portions.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 23. Thisembodiment provides a structure from which the capacitance C_(S3) ofFIG. 18 is eliminated to simplify the process. The charge storagecapacitance is reduced to an extent corresponding to the elimination ofthe capacitance C_(S3). Despite this defect, however, the presentstructure is more resistant to noise than the prior art is, and displayssuperior characteristics with the same capacitance, although thisapplies not only to the present embodiment but also the remainingembodiments of the present invention. More specifically, the presentembodiment has the following advantages over the conventional structure:

1) The present structure is free of noise due to ripple and otherundesirable characteristics in the supply voltage. That is to say, theelectrodes 1, 2 and 7 need not be supplied with the supply voltage sothat they can be set at ground potential because there is no necessityfor forming any inversion layer.

2) No leakage current flows because there exists no inversion layers inthe memory cell.

3) The present structure is resistant to alpha-particle-induced softerrors. Because the maior charge storage portion is not on the silicon,but is in the low-resistance polysilicon electrode 19 in the groove.

A plain view of the memory cells of the present invention are shown inFIGS. 24A and 24B. FIG. 24A is a plan view corresponding to thestructure shown in FIG. 18, whereas FIG. 24B is a plan viewcorresponding to the structure of FIG. 20. As is apparent from thesediagrams, both memory cells are formed with large storage capacitancesin small areas of the deep groove regions 17.

FIGS. 24A and 24B show two adjacent memory cells. The data lines 3,aluminum electrodes, are parallel to the long axis in the drawing. FIG.24A is an example of open-bit line structure, FIG. 24B is an example offolded-bit line structure. The difference between these two structuresdepends upon whether there are two gate electrodes (or word lines) 4 oronly one, or whether the paired data lines are juxtaposed side-by-sideor at opposite sides across the sense amplifier.

As has been described hereinbefore, it is apparent that the memory cellstructure according to the present invention is suitable for a veryhighly integrated memory LSI.

The following detailed description is directed mainly to one example ofthe manufacturing method of the embodiment of FIG. 18. The manufacturingmethod is as follows:

(a) The substrate having the P⁻ -type region 21 formed thereover isoxidized at selected regions to create the groove of the charge storageportion. A detailed description is omitted because it can be effected bythe well known dry etching technique. The surface is formed with a thininsulation film 18, and polycrystalline silicon 191 forming part of thecharge storage node 19 is deposited to a thickness of one half of thefinal finish thickness. Other regions are removed by etching.

(b) By using a mask, the insulation film is removed from the contactingportion 62 between the polycrystalline silicon 191 and the substrate. Atthis time, the insulating film is overetched. The result is that themask at the contacting is small so that the cell itself is smaller.

(c) After deposition, the polycrystalline silicon 19 is doped with ann-type impurity such as arsenic (As) or phosphor (P) by diffusion or ionimplantation and is subjected to heat treatment. Then, an n-typeimpurity is diffused from the polycrystalline silicon 19 into thesilicon substrate to form an n-type diffusion layer 15. After this, thepolycrystalline silicon 19 is etched away to form the insulation film13.

(d) The polycrystalline silicon 22 for providing the electrode of thecapacitance C_(S3) is deposited, and the other regions are removed alongwith insulation film 13.

(e) Through surface oxidation, gate oxide film 12, gate electrode 4, andsource and drain regions 15 are formed as in the prior art.

If metallization is then conducted, the structure of FIG. 18 isobtained. It is apparent that the manufacturing method of FIG. 20 may beexemplified by adding a P-type impurity diffusion step to the presentmethod.

As has been described hereinbefore, according to the present invention,the charge storage capacitance for the same required space can be madetwice as high as that of the memory cell having the groove of the priorart so that the present invention is suitable for dense integration.According to the present invention, moreover, it is possible to providea memory cell having the following characteristics:

1) Ripple noise in the supply voltage can be eliminated;

2) There is no interference between the memory cells; and

3) The structure is highly resistant to alpha-particles.

The characteristics show that the memory cell of the present inventionis suitable for very dense integration.

FIG. 26 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrative of the essentialportions of the memory cell array of a DRAM for explaining furtherembodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 26, symbols SA₁, SA₂, . . . denote sense amplifiers,each of which serves to amplify the minute potential difference betweena predetermined memory cell and a predetermined dummy cell to bedescribed later. Symbols BL₁₁ and BL₁₂ denote bit lines which extend inthe row direction from one side end of the sense amplifier SA₁. SymbolsBL₂₁ and BL₂₂ denote bit lines which extend in the row direction fromone side end of the sense amplifier SA₂. These bit lines BL serve totransmit charges as information. Symbols WL₁ and WL₂ denote word lineswhich extend in the column direction. They are connected topredetermined gate electrodes which constitute the switching MISFETs ofthe dummy cells to be described later, and they serve to turn "on" and"off" these MISFETs. Symbols WL₃ and WL₄ denote word lines which extendin the column direction. They are connected to predetermined gateelectrodes which constitute the switching MISFETs of the memory cells tobe described later, and they serve to turn "on" and "off" these MISFETs.Symbols M₁₁, M₁₂, M₂₁, M₂₂, . . . denote the memory cells, which holdthe charges serving as the information. The memory cell M₁₁, M₁₂, M₂₁,M₂₂, . . . is constructed of the MISFET Q₁₁, Q₁₂, Q₂₁, Q₂₂, . . . oneend of which is connected to the predetermined bit line BL and the gateelectrode of which is connected to the predetermined word line WL, and acapacitor portion C₁₁, C₁₂, C₂₁, C₂₂, . . . one end of which isconnected to the other end of the MISFET Q₁₁, Q₁₂, Q₂₁, Q₂₂, . . . andthe other end of which is connected to a fixed potential V_(SS) such asthe ground potential (0 V) or a substrate back bias potential (-2.5--3.0V). Symbols D₁₁, D₁₂, D₂₁, D₂₂, . . . denote the dummy cells, which holdcharges permitting the judgment of "1" and "0" that are the informationof the memory cells M. The dummy cell D₁₁, D₁₂, D₂₁, D₂₂, . . . isconstructed of the MISFET Q_(D11), Q_(D12), Q_(D21), Q_(D22), . . . oneend of which is connected to the predetermined bit line BL and the gateelectrode of which is connected to the predetermined word line WL, acapacitor portion C_(D11), C_(D12), C_(D21), C_(D22), . . . one end ofwhich is connected to the other end of the MISFET Q_(D11), Q_(D12),Q_(D21), Q_(D22), . . . and the other end of which is connected to theterminal of the fixed potential V_(SS), and a clearing MISFET CQ whichserves to clear the charges stored in the capacitor portion C_(D11),C_(D12), C_(D21), C_(D22), . . . . Symbol φ_(D) denotes a terminal whichis connected with the gate electrode of the clearing MISFET CQ.

Next, the practicable structure of an eleventh embodiment of the presentinvention will be described.

FIG. 27A is a plan view of the essential portions of a DRAM memory cellfor explaining the structure of the present embodiment, while FIG. 27Bis a sectional view taken along line II--II in FIG. 27A. In all thedrawings of the present embodiment, parts having the same functions areassigned identical symbols, and they shall not be repeatedly explained.

In FIGS. 27A and 27B, numeral 1 designates a p⁻ -type semiconductorsubstrate, which serves to construct a DRAM.

Numeral 2 designates a field oxide film which is formed on the mainsurface portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 so as to be locatedamong predetermined memory cells and among semiconductor elementsconstituting peripheral circuits (not shown), for example, an addressselecting circuit, a reading circuit and a writing circuit, and whichserves to electrically isolate them. The memory cells are surroundedwith and defined by the field oxide films 2 so that the pattern of onepair of memory cells may be repeated in the direction in which a bitline 15 to be described later extends (hereinbelow, called "rowdirection"). The insulator films 2 are indicated by dotted lines Noinsulator film 2 exists between the memory cells which adjoin each otherin the row direction.

Numeral 3 designates an insulator film which is provided on the mainsurface portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 in at least an area forforming a storage capacitor, and which serves to constitute thedielectric of the storage capacitor. Charges, for example, holes arestored by the first electrode of the capacitor (hereinbelow, termed"first conductive plate") and the second electrode of the capacitor(hereinbelow, termed "second conductive plate") to be described later,with the insulator film 3 interposed therebetween.

Numeral 4 indicates a p⁺ -type semiconductor region serving as thesecond conductive plate, which is provided in the surface of thesemiconductor substrate 1 in the area for forming the storage capacitorand which is provided integrally with the storage capacitors adjacent inthe row direction. It serves to constitute the storage capacitor C andsimultaneously to electrically isolate the storage capacitors adjacentin the row direction. The p⁺ -type semiconductor region 4 is disposed inorder that the charges of holes or the charges of a depletion layer tobe stored in the capacitor with the insulator film 3 interposed betweenthis region 4 and the first conductive plate may be obtained as much aspossible, or that a threshold voltage higher than a voltage which isapplied to the first conductive plate to be described later may beprovided in the vicinity of the surface of the semiconductorsubstrate 1. The semiconductor region 4 serves also to suppress thestretch of the depletion layer which is formed, upon the application ofthe voltage to the first conductive plate, so as to extend from theunderlying surface portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 inwardly ofthis semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor region 4 may have animpurity concentration higher than that of the semiconductorsubstrate 1. The p⁺ -type semiconductor region 4 should desirably bedisposed apart from an n⁺ -type semiconductor region to be describedlater. This is intended to avoid lowering in the breakdown voltage of ajunction.

Shown at numeral 5 is a contact hole, which serves for electricallyconnecting the first conductive plate 7 to be described later and onesemiconductor region 6 or 12 of a MISFET Q. The n⁺ -type semiconductorregion 6 is formed in the surface of the semiconductor substrate 1corresponding to the contact hole 5, and serves to electrically connectthe first conductive plate to be described later and one semiconductorregion of the MISFET Q.

The first conductive plate 7 is disposed on the insulator film 3 in thestorage capacitor forming area independently for each memory cell, insuch a manner that one end part thereof is electrically connectedthrough the contact hole 5 and the semiconductor region 6 with onesemiconductor region of the MISFET Q to be described later. The firstconductive plate 7 serves to construct the storage capacitor C. It isindicated by a two-dot chain line. The storage capacitor C of the memorycell is principally composed of the first conductive plate 7, thesemiconductor region 4 being the second conductive plate, and theinsulator film 3.

Shown at numeral 8 is an insulator film which is formed so as to coverthe first conductive plate 7, and which serves for electricallyisolating the first conductive plate 7 and a word line 11 to bedescribed later.

Numeral 9 indicates an insulator film which is disposed on the mainsurface portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 in the MISFET formingarea, and which serves principally to construct a gate insulator film.

Shown at numeral 10 is a gate electrode which is formed on thepredetermined insulator film 3, and which serves to construct the MISFETQ.

The word line (WL) 11 is disposed so as to be electrically connectedwith the gate electrodes 10 of the memory cells adjacent in the columndirection and to extend in the column direction integrally with the gateelectrodes 10. It serves for turning "on" and "off" (switchingoperation) MISFETs to be described later (hereinbelow, the direction inwhich the word line 11 extends shall be called the column direction).

Numerals 12 indicate the n⁺ -type semiconductor regions which are formedin the surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 on both the sides of thegate electrode 10, and which serve as a source region and a drain regionto construct the MISFET Q. The switching transistor (MISFET) Q iscomposed of the gate electrode 10, the semiconductor region 12 and theinsulator film 9. One of the semiconductor regions 12 is electricallyconnected with the semiconductor region 6, and is electrically connectedwith the first conductive plate 7 as stated before.

Shown at numeral 13 is an insulator film which is formed so as to coverthe whole surface, and which serves for electrically isolating the gateelectrode 10 as well as the word line (WL) 11 and a bit line 15 to bedescribed later.

Numeral 14 denotes a contact hole which is provided by locally removingthe insulator films 9 and 13 on the other semiconductor region 12, andwhich serves for electrically connecting the semiconductor region 12 andthe bit line to be described below.

The bit line (BL) 15 is disposed in a manner to be electricallyconnected with the semiconductor region 12 through the contact hole 14and to extend in the row direction. It serves to transmit a voltageserving as information.

Next, the principle of the DRAM according to the present inventionhaving the above construction will be described.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are graphs for elucidating the principle of thepresent invention. In these figures, the axis of abscissas representsthe voltage value V_(p) [V] which is applied across the two capacitorelectrodes of the MIS type storage capacitor. The axis of ordinatesrepresents the concentration of charges Q_(SC) [/cm² ] per unit area,the charges being held in the surface of the lower p-type semiconductorregion by the voltage applied across the capacitor electrodes. The axisof ordinates is taken by a logarithmic scale. Since, in FIGS. 3A and 3B,the p-type silicon semiconductor substrate is exemplified the charges tobe induced in the surface are minus charges for the voltage across thecapacitor electrodes, V_(p) >V_(FB) and plus charges for V_(p) <V_(FB).Here, V_(FB) denotes a flatband voltage. The minus charges are electronsor acceptor impurities, while the plus charges are holes.

FIG. 28 illustrates a case where the holes which are space charges inthe depletion layer are principally utilized as the charges which arestored as information. This corresponds to the case where the p⁺ -typesemiconductor region 4 shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B is included.

The principle of the prior-art DRAM will be first explained withreference to FIG. 28A.

Curves (a), (b) and (c) illustrate the relationships between the voltageV_(p) and the charge concentration Q_(SC) in the vicinity of thesurface, in the prior-art DRAM. In the figure, h indicates anaccumulation region in which an accumulation layer is formed, k adepletion region in which a depletion layer is formed, and m aninversion region in which an inversion layer is formed. In the figure,the curves (a), (b) and (c) indicate the numbers of electrons andacceptor impurities (the numbers of minus charges) n and the number ofholes p in the case where the threshold voltage (V_(th)) of the vicinityof the semiconductor substrate surface in the storage capacitor isrendered about -0.2 V. The curve (a) indicates the number of holes p inthe accumulation region h, which is expressed by p≈|C_(ox) /q (V_(p)-V_(FB))| . . . (1). The curve (c) indicates the number of electrons andacceptor impurities n in the inversion region m, which is expressed byn≈C_(ox) /q (V_(p) -V_(th)) . . . (2). Here, C_(ox) denotes thethickness of the insulator film which is the dielectric of thecapacitor. The curve (b) indicates the number of acceptor impuritiesappearing in the state (deep depletion state) in which no inversionlayer is formed despite the inversion region, the number beingapproximately expressed by ##EQU1## When, from the above, the surfacecharge concentration Q_(SC) in the essential parts of the curves (a),(b) and (c) are evaluated, the surface minus charge concentration at thevoltage V_(p) =V_(th) becomes Q_(IF) =1×10¹¹ [/cm² ], and the surfaceminus charge concentration at the voltage V_(p) =0 becomes Q₁₀ =2.2×10¹¹[/cm² ].

In the storage capacitor of the prior-art DRAM memory cell, charges toserve as information have been the electrons in the inversion region m.Specifically, a fixed voltage, for example, a voltage of about 5 [V] isapplied across the capacitor electrodes so as to bring the operatingregion into the inversion region m. Thereunder, the quantity of chargesQ_(IL) in the case of forming the inversion layer by externallysupplying charges (the state of the curve (c)) and the quantity ofcharges Q_(IH) in the case of the deep depletion state withoutexternally supplying charges (the state of the curve (b)) areestablished in correspondence with information. By way of example, thequantity of charges Q_(IL) corresponds to a signal "0" (namely, "L"),and the quantity of charges Q_(IH) a signal "1" (namely, "H"). Thesignals are read out by utilizing the difference of the quantities ofcharges in he two statuses, ΔQ_(I) =Q_(IL) -Q_(IH) =5.3×10¹² [/cm² ].

In contrast, in the storage capacitor of the DRAM memory cell of thepresent invention, the charges to serve as information are space chargesin, at least, a depletion region. That is, the DRAM of the presentinvention is characterized in that a inversion layer is not utilized.

Curves (d) and (e) illustrate the relationships between the voltage ofthe capacitor electrode (the voltage of the first conductive plate)V_(p) and the charge concentration Q_(SC) in the vicinity of the surfaceof the semiconductor region 4, in the DRAM of the present invention. Thecurve (d) approximates a curve which is obtained by moving the curve (a)in the minus direction of the voltage V_(p) (leftward in the figure).The curve (e) indicates the quantity of space charges which appear inthe depletion layer, not in the inversion state. The flatband voltage isset at V_(FBD) =-1.2 [V] from V_(FBI) =-0.9 [V] in the prior art. Inorder to increase the quantity of space charges in the depletion stateby scarcely changing the flatband voltage, the p⁺ -type semiconductorregion 4 is formed. Concretely, the impurity concentration is raised to1.5×10¹⁹ [/cm³ ] from the impurity concentration of the p⁻ -typesubstrate 1, which is 1.5×10¹⁵ [/cm³ ]. Thus, the quantity of charges tobe fetched is increased. The ranges of voltages to establish theaccumulation region h, the depletion region k and the inversion region mchange similarly.

As thus far described, the space charges of the depletion region arepermitted to be effectively utilized by changing the relationshipbetween V_(p) and Q_(SC). More specifically, when the first conductiveplate 7 being the capacitor electrode has V_(p) =0 [V] or 5 [V] appliedthereto in correspondence with information, the quantity of charges asthe information to be stored changes in accordance with the curve (e).That is, the inversion layer is not formed, and the deep depletion stateis established. Thus, the quantity of charges Q_(DL) at V_(p) =0 [V] orthe quantity of charges Q_(DH) at V_(p) =5 [V] is stored. By way ofexample, the quantity of charges Q_(DL) corresponds to a signal "0", andthe quantity of charges Q_(DH) a signal "1". When the difference betweenthe two quantities of charges, ΔQ_(D) =Q_(DH) -Q_(DL) =5.6×10¹² [/cm² ]is utilized, the information of 1 bit can be stored in the memory cell.This quantity of charges is equal or above that of the memory cell ofthe prior-art DRAM described before. In this manner, the sufficientquantity of charges is obtained without utilizing the inversion layer.

FIG. 28B illustrates a case where holes in the accumulation region areprincipally utilized as charges which are stored as information. Thiscorresponds to a case of forming a very shallow p⁺ -type ionimplantation region, not to the case of forming the deep p⁺ -typesemiconductor region as in FIGS. 27A and 27B. That is, it exemplifies acase where boron ions are ion-implanted shallowly so as to function assurface charges apparently. The same parts as in FIG. 28A are indicatedby identical symbols, and shall be omitted from the description.

Curves (f) and (g) are approximate to curves which are respectivelyobtained by shifting the curves (a) and (b) in the plus direction of thevoltage V_(p) (rightward in the figure) by fixed values. Concretely, theflatband voltage is raised to V_(FBA) =+5.2 [V] from V_(FBI) =-0.9 [V]in the prior art. To this end, surface charges are increased byimplanting boron ions to be very shallow. The ranges of the voltagesV_(p) to establish the accumulation region h, the depletion region k andthe inversion region m change similarly by the variation of the flatbandvoltage.

As thus far described, the holes in the accumulated state are permittedto be effectively utilized by changing the relationship between V_(p)and Q_(SC). More specifically, when the first conductive plate 7 beingthe capacitor electrode has V_(p) =0 V or 5.2 [V] applied thereto incorrespondence with information, the quantity of charges as theinformation to be stored changes in accordance with the curves (f) and(g). That is, the inversion layer is not utilized. The quantity ofcharges Q_(AL) is stored at V_(p) =0 [V], and the quantity of chargesQ_(AH) at V_(p) =5 [V]. By way of example, the quantity of chargesQ_(AL) corresponds to a signal "0", and that Q_(AH) a signal "1". Thedifference between the two quantities of charges, ΔQ_(A) =ΔQ_(AL)-ΔQ_(AH) is greater than the quantity of charges ΔQ_(I) in the priorart. In this manner, the sufficient quantity of charges is obtainedwithout utilizing the inversion layer. The quantity of charges Q_(AL) isheld by the holes in the stored state, and the quantity of chargesQ_(AH) by the space charges in the depletion region. The charges ofQ_(AH) are opposite in sign to those of Q_(AL), but this forms noinconvenience, and the difference of the quantities of charges isindicated by ΔQ_(A). In addition, at V_(p) =5 [V], the quantity ofcharges Q_(AH) is held by the holes in the stored state located on theleft side of V_(FBA) in FIG. 28B. The curves (f) and (g) can becontrolled by the dose of impurity ions. In this example, the dose isequal to that in the case of FIG. 28A.

Besides the principles illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B, a DRAM whichuses the two in combination is also possible. It is possible to increasethe quantity of surface charges by any method and to simultaneouslyincrease the quantity of space charges in a depletion layer. Further, acase of employing an n-type semiconductor substrate is similar. In thiscase, charges to serve as information are space charges which consist ofelectrons in an accumulation layer or donors in a depleted state.

There will now be described a practicable method of manufacturing theeleventh embodiment of the present invention.

First, in order to construct a DRAM, a p⁻ -type semiconductor substrate1 made of single crystal silicon (Si) is prepared. As shown in FIGS. 29Aand 29B, the semiconductor substrate 1 is partly covered with a thickfield oxide film (SiO₂ film) 2 for electrically isolating predeterminedmemory cells which adjoin each other or semiconductor elements (notshown) which constitute a peripheral circuit, for example, an addressingcircuit, a reading circuit or a writing circuit. The field oxide film 2may be formed by the well-known technique in which the silicon substrateis thermally oxidized locally by employing a silicon nitride film as amask. A p⁺ -type region as a channel stopper may well be disposed underthe field oxide film 2.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 29A and 29B, an insulator film 3 isformed on the whole surface in order to construct a storage capacitor.Used as the insulator film 3 is a silicon nitride (Si₃ N₄) film which isformed by CVD, the relative dielectric constant of which is as high as7-8 and which has a thickness of, e.g., approximately 150 [Å]. In orderto relieve the stress between the silicon nitride film and thesemiconductor substrate 1, a first silicon dioxide (SiO₂) film having athickness of, e.g., approximately 80 [Å] is disposed under the siliconnitride film. In order to eliminate the pinholes of the silicon nitridefilm, a second silicon dioxide film having a thickness of, e.g.,approximately 30 [Å] is disposed over the silicon nitride film. Thefirst and second SiO₂ films may be formed by thermally oxidizing thesurfaces of the semiconductor substrate and the silicon nitride film,respectively. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, a p⁺-type semiconductor region 4 to serve as the second conductive plates ofstorage capacitors is locally formed in the vicinity of the surface ofthe semiconductor substrate 1 in an area for forming the storagecapacitors of memory cells, in particular, unitarily with the storagecapacitors adjacent in the row direction. As explained with reference toFIGS. 28A and 28B, the semiconductor region 4 is formed in the storagecapacitor forming area for the purpose of producing a larger quantity ofcharges of holes or in a depletion layer, to be stored in the storagecapacitor and to become a larger quantity of information, or for thepurpose of attaining a threshold voltage (V_(th)) higher than anoperating voltage which is applied to a first conductive plate to bedescribed later. By way of example, boron ions on the order of 5×10.sup.13 [atoms/cm² ] are introduced as impurities by the ion implantation atan energy level of about 30 [keV]. In order to utilize the principlestated in conjunction with FIG. 28A, the introduced impurities may besubjected to the drive-in diffusion. The depth of the semiconductorregion 4 in that case is rendered 0.3 [μm] or so. On the other hand, incase of utilizing the principle stated in conjunction with FIG. 28B, thedrive-in diffusion is not carried out. In this case, it is desirable tostill lower the ion implantation energy or to introduce the impuritiesinto a very shallow position of the substrate through another insulatorfilm. This measure is intended to cause the ion-implanted impurities toapparently function as surface charges.

FIG. 30C shows a part of memory cell arrays which are formed with the p⁺-type semiconductor regions 4. The field oxide film 2 is disposed forelectrical isolation between the memory cells adjoining each other inthe column direction, namely, in the direction in which a word line isto extend (vertical direction in the figure). The field oxide film 2 isnot disposed between the memory cells adjoining each other in the rowdirection, namely, in the direction in which a bit line is to extend(lateral direction in the figure). In one memory cell array, the fieldoxide film 2 is disposed in the shape of a belt meandering from one endpart to the other end part thereof. The semiconductor region 4 isdisposed as a region which is common to the two capacitors adjoiningeach other in the row direction. A region 20 is a region which isdisposed so as to surround the memory cell arrays and which serves as aguard ring. The region 20 has n-type impurities introduced thereintolater simultaneously with the formation of MISFETs Q, to be turned intoan n⁺ -type region. A section along a cutting-plane line B--B in thefigure is shown in FIG. 30B. The insulator film 3 is omitted.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, in the electricalconnection part between the first conductive plate to be formed by alater step and one semiconductor region to constitute the MISFET, theinsulator film 3 is locally removed to form a contact hole 5. Thecontact hole 5 is disposed in a manner to be spaced from thesemiconductor region 4. Thereafter, a polycrystalline silicon film tobecome the first conductive plates is formed on the whole surface by theCVD. The polycrystalline silicon film may have a thickness ofapproximately 1500-3000 [Å] by way of example. In order to render thepolycrystalline silicon film low in resistivity, the processing ofdiffusing phosphorus is performed, or arsenic (As) ions at a dose ofapproximately 5×10¹⁴ [atoms/cm² ] are ion-implanted at an energy levelof approximately 30 [keV], whereupon a heat treatment is executed. Bythis treatment, the impurities are diffused into the surface part of thesemiconductor substrate 1 corresponding to the contact hole 5, to formthe n⁺ -type semiconductor region 6 constituting the MISFET which isformed by the later step. The depth of the semiconductor region 6becomes approximately 0.2 [μm]. Thereafter, the polycrystalline siliconfilm is locally patterned, to form the first conductive plate 7 which iselectrically connected with the semiconductor region 6 as shown in FIGS.31A and 31B. Thus, the storage capacitor C of the memory cell is formed.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 31A and 31B, using principally thesilicon nitride film of the exposed insulator film 3 as a mask against aheat treatment, an insulator film (SiO₂ film) 8 which covers the firstconductive plate 7 is formed by the thermal oxidation. This SiO₂ film 8may have its thickness rendered, for example, approximately 2000-3000[Å] so that the first conductive plate 7 and the word line to be formedby a later step can be electrically isolated. Thereafter, the exposedinsulator film 3 is locally removed, whereupon as illustrated in FIGS.32A and 32B, an insulator film (SiO₂ film) 9 serving principally toconstruct a gate insulator film is formed in the removed part of theinsulator film 3 by the thermal oxidation of the exposed surface of thesemiconductor substrate 1. This insulator film 9 has a thickness of, forexample, approximately 200 [Å].

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 32A and 32B, a polycrystallinesilicon film is formed on the whole surface in order to form the gateelectrodes of the MISFETs, the word lines, and the semiconductorelements of peripheral circuits. This polycrystalline silicone film issubjected to the same treatment as in the foregoing, to have itsresistivity lowered. Thereafter, the polycrystalline silicon film islocally patterned, to form the gate electrode 10, the word line (WL) 11and the gate electrode (not shown) of the MISFET of the peripheralcircuit. The gate electrode 10 is electrically connected with the gateelectrode 10 of the other of the memory cells adjacent in the columndirection, and it constructs the word line 11 extending in the columndirection. As the gate electrode 10 or the word line (WL) 11, it is alsoallowed to use, for example, a layer of a refractory metal such asmolybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W) or titanium (Ti); a layer of any silicidewhich is the compound of the refractory metal and silicon; or adouble-layer structure which consists of a polycrystalline silicon layerand a refractory metal layer or a refractory metal silicide layeroverlying the former. Thereafter, in the MISFET forming area, using thegate electrode 10 as a mask against impurity introduction, impurities ofthe n⁺ -type are introduced in self-alignment fashion in order to formthe source region and drain region of the MISFET in the vicinities ofthe surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 through the insulator film9 intervening between them and the gate electrode. The introducedimpurities are subjected to the drive-in diffusion, whereby the n⁺ -typesemiconductor regions 12 to serve as the source region and the drainregion are formed as shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B. The semiconductorregion 6 is electrically connected with one of the semiconductor regions12. Thus, the switching transistor (MISFET) Q of the memory cell isformed. In addition, arsenic ion impurities may be used as the n⁺ -typeimpurities and may be introduced by the ion implantation permitting themto permeate through the insulator film 9. The depth of the n⁺ -typeregion is as small as 0.2 μm.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 33A and 33B, an insulator film 13is formed on the whole surface for the purpose of electrically isolatingthe gate electrode 10 as well as the word line (WL) 11 an-d the bit lineto be formed by a later step. As this insulator film 13, aphosphosilicate glass (PSG) film may be used which relieves theundulations of the surface and which can trap sodium (Na) ions affectingthe electrical performance of the DRAM. Subsequently, in order toconnect the other semiconductor region 12 and the bit line to be formedby the later step, the insulator films 9 and 13 on this semiconductorregion 12 are locally removed to form a contact hole 14. The bit line(BL) 15 is formed which is electrically connected with the semiconductorregion 12 through the contact hole 14 and which extends in the rowdirection. This bit line (BL) 15 may be formed of, e.g., aluminum (Al).The resulting state is illustrated in FIGS. 27A and 27B. Thereafter, aPSG film and a silicon nitride film by the plasma CVD are formed as afinal passivation film.

The DRAM of the present embodiment is finished up by these series ofmanufacturing steps.

Next, the concrete operation of the eleventh embodiment of the presentinvention will be described.

The operation of the present embodiment will be explained as to theoperation of a predetermined memory cell with reference to FIGS. 27A and27B.

First, a case of writing information into the memory cell will beexplained. A voltage is selectively applied to the gate electrode 10constituting the MISFET Q of the memory cell, to turn "on" this MISFETQ. A voltage to serve as the information is applied to the bit line (BL)15 which is electrically connected with the semiconductor region 12through the contact hole 14. Thus, the voltage of the bit line (BL) 15corresponding to the information is applied to the first conductiveplate 7 through the MISFET Q. The semiconductor region 4 serving as thesecond conductive plate is electrically connected with the semiconductorsubstrate 1, and is held at the fixed potential V_(SS) as predetermined.If there is a potential difference between the potential of the secondconductive plate and the voltage as the information applied to the firstconductive plate 7, charges to serve as information are stored in theinsulator film 3 which is the intervening portion between the conductiveplates, that is, they are written into the storage capacitor C of thememory cell as is usually said.

In case of holding the information in the memory cell, the MISFET Q maybe turned "off" in the state in which the information has been writteninto the storage capacitor C of the memory cell.

Besides, in case of reading out the information of the memory cell, anoperation reverse to the writing operation may be performed.

According to the present embodiment, in a DRAM wherein a series circuitconsisting of a storage capacitor and a MISFET is employed as a memorycell, a first conductive plate which constitutes the storage capacitoris formed on a semiconductor substrate and is disposed so as to beelectrically connected with on semiconductor region of the MISFET, and asemiconductor region which has an impurity concentration higher thanthat of the semiconductor substrate is disposed as a second conductiveplate which constitutes the storage capacitor through an insulator film,whereby charges serving as information can be stored in the storagecapacitor by holes. Thus, electrons stored in an inversion layer neednot be used as the charges serving as the information, so that theinfluence of unnecessary minority carriers attributed to α-particles orthe injection thereof from a peripheral circuit portion can beprevented.

Moreover, since the storage capacitor need not take into considerationthe degree of influence by the unnecessary minority carriers attributedto the α-particles or the injection from the peripheral circuit portion,the occupying area thereof can be reduced. This makes it possible tointegrate the DRAM at a higher packing density.

Further, the storage capacitor can be electrically isolated from anotherstorage capacitor adjoining it in a row direction, by the semiconductorregion being the second conductive plate, so that a field oxide film oflarge occupying area becomes unnecessary to realize the integration ofthe DRAM at a higher packing density.

A twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 34A to FIG. 37B.

FIG. 34A is a plan view of the essential portions of a DRAM memory cellfor elucidating the structure of the present embodiment, while FIG. 34Bis a sectional view taken along a cutting-plane line IX--IX in FIG. 34A.In all the figures of the present embodiment, parts having the samefunctions as in the eleventh embodiment are assigned the same symbols,and they shall not be repeatedly explained.

In FIGS. 34A and 34B, numeral 18 designates an insulator film which isformed so as to cover at least a first conductive plate 7 and whichserves to construct a storage capacitor. The insulator film 18 forms thecapacitor along with the first conductive plate 7 and a third electrodeto be described later (hereinbelow, termed the "third conductiveplate"), and is adapted to store charges serving as information. Theinsulator film 18 is also adapted to electrically isolate the firstconductive plates 7 of adjacent memory cells. Numeral 16 designates thethird conductive plate which is disposed on the insulator film 18outside an area for forming a MISFET Q, and which serves to constructthe storage capacitor. A fixed potential, for example, the samepotential as that of a substrate 1 is applied to the third conductiveplate 16. The third conductive plate 16 is provided as an electrodecommon to the whole of one memory cell array in which a plurality ofmemory cells are arranged in the shape of a matrix. The third conductiveplate 16 is windowed in a part for disposing the MISFET Q. The storagecapacitor of the memory cell is principally constructed of a parallelcircuit connection consisting of a capacitance C which is composed ofthe first conductive plate 7, a semiconductor region 4 being a secondconductive plate and an insulator film 3, and a capacitance C₁ which iscomposed of the first conductive plate 7, the third conductive plate 16and the insulator film 18. Numeral 19 designates an insulator film whichis disposed so as to cover the third conductive plate 16, and whichserves to electrically isolate the third conductive plate 16 and a wordline (WL) 11. Semiconductor regions 4 and 6 are disposed so as to bespaced from each other.

When practicable memory cell arrays are constructed by the use of suchmemory cells shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, they become as illustrated inFIG. 35.

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the essential portions of the schematic memorycell arrays for explaining the twelfth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 35, in order to make the drawing easy to see,insulator films to be disposed between respective conductive layers,contact holes 5 and the semiconductor regions 4 are omitted from theillustration. The shapes and positional relations of the contact holes5, the semiconductor regions 4 and other regions will be apparent fromFIG. 34A.

Excepting the third conductive plate 16, the twelfth embodiment is quitethe same as the eleventh embodiment.

There will now be described a practicable method of manufacturing thetwelfth embodiment.

FIGS. 36A and 37A are plan views of the essential portions of a DRAMmemory cell at respective manufacturing steps for explaining themanufacturing method of the present embodiment, while FIGS. 36B and 37Bare sectional views along cutting-plane lines in FIGS. 36A and 37A,respectively.

After the steps of the eleventh embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 31A and31B, an insulator film 18 is formed on the whole surface in order toconstruct a storage capacitor. Likewise to the foregoing insulator film3, this insulator film 18 may be constructed of a silicon dioxide film,a silicon nitride film and another silicon dioxide film. Thereafter, apolycrystalline silicon film to become a third conductive plate isformed on the whole surface by the CVD. The polycrystalline silicon filmmay have a thickness of, for example, approximately 3000 [Å]. In orderto render this polycrystalline silicon film low in resistivity,phosphorus or arsenic is introduced by the same method as in theforegoing. Subsequently, the polycrystalline silicon film is locallypatterned, to form the third conductive plate 16 common to a pluralityof memory cells outside a MISFET forming area as shown in FIGS. 36A and36B. Thus, the storage capacitor C₁ of the memory cell is formed.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 36A and 36B, using principally thesilicon nitride film of the exposed insulator film 18 as a mask againsta heat treatment, the polycrystalline silicon layer being the thirdconductive plate is thermally oxidized, thereby to form an insulatorfilm (SiO₂ film) 19 which covers the third conductive plate 16.Thereafter, the exposed insulator film 18 and the underlying insulatorfilm 3 are locally removed. As in the eleventh embodiment, a gateinsulator film 9 is formed in the removed area as shown in FIGS. 37A and37B. Further, a gate electrode 10, a word line (WL) 11 and semiconductorregions 12 are formed.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 37A and 37B, an insulator film 13,a contact hole 14 and a bit line (BL) 15 are formed as in the eleventhembodiment. Then the resultant structure becomes as shown in FIGS. 34Aand 34B. Thereafter, a PSG film and a silicon nitride film by the plasmaCVD are formed as a final passivation film.

The DRAM of the present embodiment is finished up by these series ofmanufacturing steps.

Next, the concrete operation of the twelfth embodiment will bedescribed.

The operation of the present embodiment will be explained as to theoperation of a predetermined memory cell with reference to FIGS. 34A and34B.

First, a case of writing information into the memory cell will beexplained. A voltage is selectively applied to the gate electrode 10constituting the MISFET Q of the memory cell, to turn "on" this MISFETQ. A voltage corresponding to the information is applied to the bit line(BL) 15 which is electrically connected with the semiconductor region 12through the contact hole 14. Thus, the voltage of the bit line (BL) 15to serve as the information is applied to the first conductive plate 7through the MISFET Q. The semiconductor region 4 serving as the secondconductive plate is electrically connected with the semiconductorsubstrate 1, and is held at the fixed potential V_(SS) as predetermined.Also the third conductive plate 16 is held at the fixed potential V_(SS)by way of example. If there is a potential difference between thepotentials of the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate16 equal to each other and the voltage as the information applied to thefirst conductive plate 7, charges to serve as information are stored inthe insulator film 3 and the insulator film 18 which are the interveningportions between the conductive plates, that is, they are written intothe storage capacitor C and C₁ of the memory cell as is usually said.

In case of holding the information in the memory cell, the MISFET Q maybe turned "off" in the state in which the information has been writteninto the storage capacitor C and C₁ of the memory cell.

Besides, in case of reading out the information of the memory cell, anoperation reverse to the writing operation may be performed.

According to the present embodiment, effects similar to those of theeleventh embodiment are achieved.

Furthermore, by disposing a third conductive plate on a first conductiveplate through an insulator film the quantity of charges to be stored bythe first conductive plate and the second conductive plate and thequantity of charges by the first conductive plate and the thirdconductive plate can be stored in a storage capacitor. Thus, when thetwelfth embodiment is compared with the eleventh embodiment, thequantity of charge storage of the storage capacitor per unit area can beincreased to approximately double, and the integration of the DRAM at ahigher packing density can be realized.

By the way, when the potential of a substrate or a p⁺ -typesemiconductor region 4 is a substrate bias potential V_(BB) =-3.0 V andthe potential of a polycrystalline silicon layer 16 is the groundpotential V_(SS) =0 V, the quantity of charge storage becomes about 1.5times that in the absence of the polycrystalline silicon layer 16.

In addition, by disposing the third conductive plate 16 of the fixedpotential on the first conductive plate, a word line WL to which acontrol voltage of fluctuating magnitude is applied can be preventedfrom affecting the first conductive plate 7, so that the quantity ofcharges to be stored in the storage capacitor can be stabilized. Thus,the writing and reading operations of the DRAM can be stabilized, andthe reliability of the DRAM can be enhanced.

A thirteenth embodiment is an example wherein, in the twelfthembodiment, the thick field oxide film 2 which isolates the memory cellsis not formed at all. The plane and sectional shapes of the thirteenthembodiment become identical to those of FIGS. 34A and 34B and FIG. 35from which the field oxide film 2 has been omitted For this reason, theplane and sectional shapes of the DRAM of the thirteenth embodimentshall not be explained, and a practicable method of manufacturing theembodiment will be described, along with the brief description of thestructure thereof.

FIGS. 38, 39 and 40 are plan views of the essential portions of memorycell arrays at various manufacturing steps for explaining themanufacturing method of the present embodiment. Throughout the drawingsof the present embodiment, parts having the same functions as in theeleventh and twelfth embodiments are assigned the same symbols, and theyshall not be repeatedly described.

First, excepting a memory cell array portion, a semiconductor substrate1 is partly covered with a field oxide film in order to electricallyisolate the semiconductor elements (not shown) of a peripheral circuit.As in the eleventh and twelfth embodiments, an insulator film 3 isformed on the whole surface. Thereafter, a mask 17 for impurityintroduction made of, e.g., a silicon nitride film is formed selectivelyon the insulator film 3 in an area in which the MISFET of a switchingtransistor is to be formed by a later step. An area outside the memorycell array, namely, an area to ,form the peripheral circuit therein iscovered with the mask 17. Subsequently, using the mask 17, p-typeimpurities are introduced into the part of the semiconductor substrate 1other than the mask 17, to form a p⁺ -type semiconductor region 4 whichbecomes the second conductive plate of a storage capacitor and whichserves to electrically isolate memory cells adjacent in row and columndirections, as illustrated in FIG. 38. That is, the p⁺ -typesemiconductor region 4 is formed on the whole surface of the memory cellarray except for the area in which the MISFETs are to be disposed.

After the steps illustrated in FIG. 38, the mask 17 is removed,whereupon in the electrical connection part between a first conductiveplate to be formed by a later step and one semiconductor region toconstitute the MISFET, the insulator film 3 is locally removed to form acontact hole 5. The contact hole 5 and the semiconductor region 4 aredisposed so as to be spaced. Thereafter, a polycrystalline silicon filmto become the first conductive plate is formed on the whole surface, andit is implanted with As ions to lower its resistivity and simultaneouslyto locally form an n⁺ -type semiconductor region 6. Subsequently, thepolycrystalline silicon film is locally patterned to form the firstconductive plate 7 as shown in FIG. 14.

After the steps illustrated in FIG. 39, as in the twelfth embodiment, aninsulator film 18 and a third conductive plate 16 are formed thereby toconstruct a storage capacitor C₁. After forming insulator films 19 and9, a gate electrode 10 and a word line (WL) 11 are formed. By formingsemiconductor regions 12, the MISFET Q is constructed. After forming aninsulator film 13 and a contact hole 14, a bit line (BL) 15 is formed asshown in FIG. 40. In FIG. 40, insulator films to be provided betweenrespective conductive layers are omitted in order to make the drawingeasy to see.

As in the eleventh embodiment, the MISFETs Q may well be formed tofinish up the DRAM, without forming the storage capacitors C₁.

The DRAM of the present embodiment is finished up by these series ofmanufacturing steps. Thereafter, a final passivation film is formed asin the eleventh or twelfth embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, effects similar to those of thetwelfth embodiment are achieved.

Furthermore, the memory cell of the DRAM can be electrically isolatedfrom other memory cells adjoining it in row and column directions, by asemiconductor region being a second conductive plate which constitutes astorage capacitor. Accordingly, a field oxide film in a memory cellarray becomes unnecessary, and the integration of the DRAM at a higherpacking density can be realized.

A fourteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 41 to48. The fourteenth embodiment is an example wherein a trench (groove) isadded to the eleventh embodiment in order to increase the quantity ofcharges which can be stored in a capacitor. Throughout the drawings ofthe present embodiment, parts having the same functions as in theeleventh embodiment are assigned the same symbols, and they shall not berepeatedly explained.

In FIGS. 41A and 41B, numeral 2 designates a field oxide film. Memorycells are shaped by the field oxide films 2 so that the pattern of onepair of the memory cells may be repeated in a row direction as shown inFIG. 44. Within a memory cell array, the field oxide film 2 is disposedprincipally between the memory cells adjacent in a column direction.This is the same as in the eleventh or twelfth embodiment.

Numeral 21 indicates a trench (groove) which is provided in asemiconductor substrate 1 in an area for forming a storage capacitortherein, and which serves to construct the storage capacitor. Thistrench 21 increases the quantity of charges as information per unit areain the storage capacitor.

A p⁺ -type semiconductor region 4 serving as a second conductive plateis disposed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 in thestorage capacitor forming area and the surface of the substrate 1 withinthe trench 21, and is provided unitarily with the storage capacitorsadjacent in the row direction. The situation of such p⁺ -typesemiconductor regions 4 is shown in FIG. 44.

Now, a method of manufacturing the fourteenth embodiment will bedescribed.

First, a field oxide film (SiO₂ film) 2 and p⁺ -type semiconductorregions 4 are formed by the same method as that of the eleventhembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 29A,29B,30A and 30B.

After the step illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, an insulator film 22A,an insulator film 22B and an insulator film 22C are formed on the wholesurface of a semiconductor substrate 1 in order to form a trench and asecond conductive plate. The insulator film 22C is a mask againstetching for forming the trench, and a silicon dioxide (SiO₂) film may beemployed by way of example. The insulator film 22B is a mask againstimpurity introduction for forming the second conductive plate, and asilicon nitride (Si₃ N₄) film may be employed by way of example. Theinsulator film 22A serves to relieve the stress between thesemiconductor substrate 1 and the silicon nitride film 22B, and asilicon dioxide film may be employed by way of example. The insulatorfilm 22A may be formed by the thermal oxidation of the surface of thesubstrate 1. The insulator films 22B and 22C may be formed by the CVD.The insulator film 22C in a storage capacitor forming area is locallypatterned, to form a first mask for forming the trench. Anisotropic dryetching is performed using the first mask, whereby the insulator films22B and 22C are locally removed to form a second mask out of theinsulator film 22B, and further, a predetermined part of thesemiconductor substrate 1 is locally removed to form the trench 21 asshown in FIGS. 42A and 42B. The widthwise dimension W of the trench 21may be approximately 1-1.5 [μm], and the depth thereof from the surfaceof the semiconductor substrate 1 may be approximately 2-4 [μm].

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 42A and 42B, the insulator film 22Chaving served as the first mask is removed, and the insulator film 22Bto serve as the second mask is exposed. Using this second mask,impurities are introduced into the vicinity of the surface of thesemiconductor substrate 1 exposed inside the trench 21, whereby a p⁺-type semiconductor region 4 to become the second conductive plate isformed as shown in FIGS. 43A and 43B. By way of example, thesemiconductor region 4 is formed in such a way that boron (B) ions at aconcentration of approximately 1×10¹⁸ [atoms/cm³ ] or above areintroduced by thermal diffusion at approximately 900-1000 [°C.]. In thiscase, the depth of the semiconductor region 4 taken from the surface ofthe semiconductor substrate 1 inwardly thereof is made approximately 0.3[μm].

The state of memory cell arrays after the formation of the semiconductorregions 4 is shown in FIG. 44. The insulator films 22A and 22B areomitted in FIG. 44. A section along a cutting-plane line B--B in FIG. 44is shown in FIG. 43B.

After removing the insulator films 22B and 22A, the same insulator film3 as in the eleventh embodiment for forming the storage capacitor isformed as shown in FIGS. 45A and 45B.

After the step illustrated in FIGS. 45A and 45B, a contact hole 5, an n⁺-type semiconductor region 6 and a first conductive plate 7 are formedas shown in FIGS. 46A and 46B by the same method as that illustrated inFIGS. 31A and 31B. The trench 21 may well be buried with polycrystallinesilicon for the first conductive plate 7 so as to flatten the surfacethereof.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 46A and 46B, using principally thesilicon nitride film of the exposed insulator film 3 as a mask against aheat treatment, an insulator film (SiO₂ film) 8 which covers the firstconductive plate 7 is formed by the thermal oxidation. The insulatorfilm 8 may have its thickness made, e.g., approximately 2000-3000 [Å] sothat the first conductive plate 7 and a word line to be formed by alater step can be electrically isolated. Thus, in a case where theportion of the trench 21 is not buried, the interior of the groove needsto be buried by the use of a burying material, for example, apolycrystalline silicon film or an insulator film. The polycrystallinesilicon needs to be turned into an insulator by oxidation. Thereafter,the exposed insulator film 3 is locally removed, whereby the sameinsulator film 9 as in the eleventh embodiment is formed as shown inFIGS. 47A and 47B.

After the steps illustrated in FIGS. 47A and 47B, a MISFET Q and a wordline WL are formed as shown in FIGS. 48A and 48B. These are the same asthose of the eleventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B.

Thereafter, an insulator film 13, a bit line BL, etc are formed as inthe eleventh embodiment. Then, the resultant structure becomes as shownin FIGS. 41A and 41B.

Thereafter, a PSG film and a silicon nitride film by the CVD are formedas a final passivation film.

The DRAM of the present embodiment is finished up by these series ofmanufacturing steps.

Operations in the cases of writing information into the memory cell ofthe fourteenth embodiment, holding the information and reading out theinformation are the same as in the eleventh embodiment.

According to the fourteenth embodiment, the same effects as in theeleventh embodiment are achieved.

In addition, the variation of the quantity of charge storage ascribableto minority carriers and the coupling of the depletion layer of onetrench with that of another trench in the deep parts of the trenches 21can be prevented. Accordingly, the trenches 21 can be formed deep. Thedistance between adjacent trenches, namely, the distance D₁ indicated inFIG. 42A can also be shortened.

Furthermore, since all regions for forming capacitors are p⁺ -typesemiconductor regions, the distance D₂ between a trench and a fieldoxide film as indicated in FIG. 12A can be shortened.

A fifteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 49A,49B and 50. Since the manufacturing method thereof is substantiallysimilar to that of the fourteenth embodiment, it shall not be explained.The fifteenth embodiment is an example wherein the first conductiveplate of the fourteenth embodiment is further overlaid with a thirdconductive plate to which a fixed potential is applied, so as toincrease and stabilize a capacitance.

Throughout the drawings of the present embodiment, parts having the samefunctions as in the fourteenth embodiment are assigned the same symbols,and they shall not be repeatedly explained.

In FIGS. 49A and 49B, numeral 18 designates an insulator film, similarin construction to the foregoing insulator film 3, which is disposed soas to cover at least a first conductive plate 7 and which serves toconstruct a storage capacitor C₁. This insulator film 18 stores chargesowing to the first conductive plate 7 and a third electrode to bedescribed later (hereinbelow, termed "third conductive plate"). Itelectrically isolates the first conductive plates 7 of adjacent memorycells. Numeral 16 designates the third conductive plate for constructingthe storage capacitor, which is disposed on the insulator film 18outside an area for forming a MISFET Q therein and which is connectedand provided unitarily with the third conductive plate of the othermemory cell in an identical memory cell array. A fixed potential, forexample, the same potential as that of a substrate is applied to thisthird conductive plate 16. The storage capacitor of the memory cell isprincipally constructed of a parallel connection consisting of acapacitance C which is composed of the first conductive plate 7, asemiconductor region 4 being a second conductive plate and the insulatorfilm 3, and a capacitance C₁ which is composed of the first conductiveplate 7, the third conductive plate 16 and the insulator film 18.Numeral 19 designates an insulator film which is disposed so as to coverthe third conductive plate 16, and which serves to electrically isolatethe third conductive plate 16 and a word line (WL) 11.

When practicable memory cell arrays are constructed by the use of thememory cells as shown in FIGS. 49A and 49B, they become as illustratedin FIG. 50.

FIG. 50 is a plan view of the essential portions of the schematic memorycell arrays for explaining the fifteenth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 50, in order to make the drawing easy to see,insulator films to be disposed between respective conductive layers arenot illustrated.

A figure obtained by omitting the third conductive plates 16 in FIG. 50is identical to the plan view of the fourteenth embodiment.

The operations of the fifteenth embodiment are the same as those of thetwelfth embodiment.

According to the fifteenth embodiment, effects similar to those of thetwelfth and fourteenth embodiments are achieved.

A sixteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 51, 52and 53. The sixteenth embodiment is an example wherein, in the fifteenthembodiment, the field oxide film 2 which electrically isolates thememory cells adjacent in the column direction is omitted, and quite nofield oxide film is disposed within the memory cell array.

FIGS. 51 to 53 are plan views of the essential portions of memory cellarrays at various manufacturing steps for explaining the manufacturingmethod of the present embodiment. Throughout the drawings of the presentembodiment, parts having the same functions as in the thirteenth andfourteenth embodiments are assigned the same symbols, and they shall notbe repeatedly explained.

First, excepting a memory cell array portion, a semiconductor substrate1 is partly covered with a field oxide film by the local thermaloxidation of the substrate 1 in order to electrically isolate thesemiconductor elements (not shown) of a peripheral circuit. A trench 21and the insulator film 3 are formed. Thereafter, a p⁺ -typesemiconductor region 4 is formed in the whole area of the memory cellarray except for an area covered with a mask 17, by the same method asshown in FIG. 38.

After the steps illustrated in FIG. 51, a contact hole 5, an n⁺ -typesemiconductor region 6 and a first conductive plate 7 are formed by thesame method as shown in FIG. 39. A section of FIG. 52 is identical toFIG. 46B in which the field oxide film 2 is replaced with the p⁺ -typesemiconductor region 4.

After the steps illustrated in FIG. 52, as in the thirteenth embodiment,an insulator film 18 and a third conductive plate 16 are formed, therebyto construct a storage capacitor C₁. After forming insulator films 19and 9, a gate electrode 10 and a word line (WL) 11 are formed, andsemiconductor regions 12 are formed, thereby to form a MISFET Q. Afterforming an insulator film 13 and a contact hole 14, a bit line (BL) 15is formed as shown in FIG. 53. In FIG. 53, in order to make the drawingeasy to see, insulator films to be disposed between respectiveconductive layers are not shown. In addition, a section of FIG. 53 isequal to FIG. 49B in which the field oxide film 2 is replaced with thep⁺ -type semiconductor region. Thereafter, the processing of aprotective film etc. is performed as in the eleventh embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the p⁺ -type semiconductor region 4 and then⁺ -type semiconductor region 6 need to be disposed in spaced fashion asin the other embodiments.

The operations of the sixteenth embodiment are the same as those of thetwelfth embodiment.

According to the sixteenth embodiment, effects similar to those of thethirteenth and fifteenth embodiments are achieved.

In the present embodiment, it is needless to say that the formation ofthe third conductive plate 16 may well be omitted. This is identical tothe relation between the thirteenth embodiment and the eleventhembodiment. The plan and section of the memory cells of the DRAM in thiscase and the sections thereof in the course of the manufacturing stepswill be apparent from the description of the thirteenth and fourteenthembodiments.

The present embodiment brings forth the following effects:

A storage capacitor is constructed of an insulator film which isdisposed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, a first conductiveplate one end part of which is disposed on the insulator film and theother end part of which is disposed so as to be electrically connectedwith one semiconductor region of a MISFET, and a semiconductor region toserve as a second conductive plate, which is disposed in a predeterminedsurface part of the semiconductor substrate. This eliminates thecoupling between the depletion layers of the adjacent storagecapacitors, and the leakage of charges between them.

Since the leakage of the charges is eliminated, the retention time ofcharges in the storage capacitor is enhanced, and the frequency ofrefreshing operations is lowered. Accordingly, the operating speed ofthe DRAM is enhanced.

As charges to be stored in a storage capacitor, charges in anaccumulation layer or a narrow depletion layer are used. Accordingly, itbecomes unnecessary to use electrons which are stored in a widedepletion layer or an inversion layer, so that the DRAM is not affectedby minority carriers.

Since the degree of influence of minority carriers on a storagecapacitor need not be considered, the occupying area of the storagecapacitor can be reduced. Thus, the integration of the DRAM at a higherpacking density is realized.

Since charges can be stored between a first conductive plate and asecond conductive plate and between the first conductive plate and athird conductive plate, the quantity of charge storage of a storagecapacitor per unit area increases.

A memory cell is electrically isolated from another memory celladjoining it in a row direction or/and a column direction, by asemiconductor region being a second conductive plate which constitutes astorage capacitor. An isolation region made of an insulator film becomesunnecessary, and the integration of the DRAM at a higher packing densityis permitted.

The occupying area of a memory cell can be markedly reduced, and theintegration of the DRAM at a still higher packing density is permitted.

By disposing a third conductive plate of fixed potential on a firstconductive plate, the influence of a word line on the first conductiveplate is eliminated, and the quantity of charges to be stored in astorage capacitor is stabilized. The writing and reading operations ofthe DRAM are also stabilized.

Since a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type constitutingthe capacitance of a memory cell and a semiconductor region of a secondconductivity type connected with the MISFET of the memory cell aredisposed so as to be spaced from each other, the reverse breakdownvoltage of a junction is not deteriorated.

While, in the above, the invention made by the inventors has beenconcretely described in conjunction with embodiments, it is needless tosay that the present invention is not restricted to the foregoingembodiments, but that it can be variously modified within a scope notdeparting from the purport thereof.

By way of example, it is also allowed to form a p-type well region in ann-type semiconductor substrate and to construct the memory cells of aDRAM within the well region. In addition, it is allowed to employ ann-type semiconductor substrate and to use an n-type semiconductor regionas a second conductive plate so as to store charges for information.Besides, it is allowed to form an n-type well region in a p-typesemiconductor substrate and to form the memory cells of a DRAM withinthe well region.

In the fourteenth to sixteenth embodiments, an ion implantation processmay well be employed as a method of forming a semiconductor region whichis a second conductive plate. In this case, the ion implantation isperformed in the state shown in FIG. 43B. The implanted impurityelement, for example, boron is introduced into the bottom of a trench21. The boron is diffused by subsequent annealing, to form asemiconductor region in the bottom of the trench 21 and to rise alongthe side wall of the trench toward the surface of a substrate.Therefore, the semiconductor region is formed also in a part of the sidewall of the trench. The semiconductor region extending along the sidewall does not reach the vicinity of the substrate surface (a regionwhere a semiconductor region 6 of the opposite conductivity type isformed). With this measure, the capacitance of a memory cell decreasesto some extent, but a mask registration margin for spacedly arrangingthe semiconductor regions 4 and 6 of the conductivity types opposite toeach other can be dispensed with.

The structure and fabrication method of a seventeenth embodiment will bedescribed in connection with the memory cell of the DRAM.

FIG. 54 is a diagram of an equivalent circuit showing an essentialportion of the memory cell array of the DRAM for explaining theseventeenth embodiment of the present invention. As to all embodimentsdescribed hereinafter, incidentally, the description will be made on theDRAM which adopts the open-bit line type

In FIG. 54, the bit lines BL₁₁, BL₁₂, BL₂₁, BL₂₂ and so on are arrangedto extend in a paired manner in the row direction from both the ends ofthe sense amplifiers SA₁, SA₂ and so on. Reference letters SW indicate aswitch element which is connected with the paired bit lines BL toshort-circuit them. As a result, the memory cell array does not need anydummy cell which has capacitor elements of a charge storage of one-halfas high as that of the memory cells (as is generally used in folded bitline memories).

Next, the specific structure of the seventeenth embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in the following.

FIG. 55A is a top plan view showing an essential portion of the DRAMmemory cell for explaining the structure of the present embodiment, andFIG. 55B is a section taken along line XX--XX of FIG. 55A. Incidentally,for purposes of drawing simplification, FIG. 55A does not show theinsulating films to be formed between the individual conductive layers.

Indicated at reference characters 9A in FIGS. 55A and 55B is a firstconductive plate which is formed over the insulating film 6 of thestorage capacitor element forming portion independently for each memorycell, which has its one end connected electrically with onesemiconductor region of a later-described MISFET. Indicated atcharacters 10B is an insulating film which is formed to cover the firstconductive plate 9A to mainly effect electric isolation between thefirst conductive plate 9A and a later-described MISFET to be arrangedthereover, between the first conductive plates 9A positioned close toeach other, and between the first conductive plate 9A and the word lines(WL). The insulating film 10B can fill up the insulating film 6 and thefirst conductive plate 9A with the moats 4 to flatten their uppersurfaces. Indicated at characters 7A are connection holes which areformed by selectively removing the insulating film 10B at portions wherethe first conductive plate 9A and one of the semiconductor regions ofthe later-described MISFET are to be connected, thereby to provide theirelectric connection. Indicated at reference numeral 20 is asemiconductor plate made of p⁻ -type single-crystal silicon, which isconnected with one end of the first conductive plate 9A at apredetermined portion and which is arranged over the capacitor element Cthrough the insulating film 10B while making a pair with the capacitorelement C adjoining thereto in a predetermined direction, thereby toconstruct the MISFET. Indicated at characters 11A is an insulating filmwhich is formed to cover at least the semiconductor plate 20 thereby tomainly construct the gate insulating film of the MISFET. Indicated atcharacters 14A are n⁺ -type semiconductor regions which are formed toextend depthwise from the main surface of the semiconductor plate 20 atboth the sides of the gate electrode 12 for providing a source regionand a drain region to construct the MISFET. The switching transistor,i.e., the MISFET Q₁, is composed of the gate electrodes 12, thesemiconductor regions 14A, the semiconductor plate 20 and the insulatingfilm 11A. One semiconductor region 14A is electrically connected throughthe connection hole 7A with one end of the first conductive plate 9A.

Next, the specific fabrication method of the first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in the following.

FIGS. 56A to 60A are top plan views showing the essential portions ofthe DRAM memory cell at the respective fabrication steps for explainingthe fabrication method of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 56B to 60Bare sectional views taken along the cut lines of FIGS. 56A to 60A. In amanner to correspond to the respective fabrication steps of the memorycell (as is located at the righ-hand side of the drawings) of the DRAM,incidentally, the fabrication steps of a MISFET (as is located at theleft-hand side of the drawings) constructing the peripheral circuit ofthe DRAM will be described in the following.

First of all, an insulating film 21 is formed on the main surface of thep⁻ -type silicon semiconductor substrate 1 at a region to be formed withthe MISFET except for the memory cell array portion, and a p-typechannel stopper region 22 is formed on the main surface of thesemiconductor substrate 1 at the region to be formed with the MISFETwhereas a field insulating film 2B is formed over that main surface.After that, the moats 4 are formed in the memory cell array portion in amanner similar to that described earlier in this case, and the p⁺ -typesemiconductor region 5B for providing the second conductive plate isformed in the vicinity of the surface of the semiconductor substrate 1and in the moats 4 in the vicinity of the exposed surface of thesemiconductor substrate 1. Moreover, the insulating film 6 made of SiO₂is formed all over the surface, as shown in FIGS. 56A and 56B.

After the step shown in FIGS. 56A and 56B, the first conductive plate 9Ais so formed over the insulating film 6 as to cover the moats 4 at thememory cell array portion. The first conductive plate 9A may be made ofa polycrystalline silicon film by the CVD method like that describedearlier in this case to have a thickness of about 800 to 1,200 (Å). As aresult, the storage capacitor element C of the memory cell is formed.After that, the insulating film 10B is formed all over the surface tocover the first conductive plate 9A and is then removed selectively at aportion, where the first conductive plate 9A and one semiconductorregion of the MISFET are to be connected, to form the connection hole7A. The insulating film 10B may be made of a silicon oxide (SiO₂) filmby the CVD method, for example, to have a thickness of about 3,000 to4,000 (Å). As shown in FIGS. 57A and 57B, moreover, a polycrystallinesilicon film 20A is formed all over the surface by the CVD method so asto form the semiconductor plate of single-crystal silicon. Thispolycrystalline silicon film 20A may have a thickness of about 2,500 to3,500 (Å), for example. Incidentally, the polycrystalline silicon film20A is connected with the first conductive plate 9A through theconnection hole 7A.

After the step shown in FIGS. 57A and 57B, the silicon film 20A isturned into a single-crystal silicon film. This may be conducted by aheat treatment technique using a CW argon laster (i.e., Ar-Laser), forexample, or by a laser annealing treatment under the conditions of anenergy of 3 to 15 (W), a scanning speed of 5 to 100 (cm/sec), asubstrate temperature of 300 (°C.) and a beam diameter of 30 (μm).Moreover, an impurity for controlling the threshold voltage of theMISFET is introduced into the main surface of the single-crystal siliconfilm at a portion where at least the channel of the MISFET is to beformed. This may be conducted by a heat treatment after boron ions of1×10¹¹ (atoms/cm²), for example, have been implanted with an energy ofabout 50 to 70 (KeV).

After that, as shown in FIGS. 58A and 58B, the single-crystal siliconfilm is selectively patterned to form the semiconductor plate 20 whichhas its one end connected through the connection hole 7A with the firstconductive plate 9A constructing the storage capacitor element and itsother end connected through the connection hole 7A with the firstconductive plate 9A constructing another storage capacitor elementadjoining thereto. The layer 20 is of the p⁻ -type at least at itsportion where the channel of the MISFET is to be formed. Moreover, theinsulating films 10B and 6 at predetermined portions are selectivelyremoved to expose the surface of the p⁺ -type semiconductor region 5B ofthe memory cell array portion and the main surface of the semiconductorsubstrate 1 at the MISFET forming portion constructing the peripheralcircuit to the outside.

After the step shown in FIGS. 58A and 58B, insulating films 11A and 11Bof SiO₂ are so formed by a thermally oxidizing technique to cover thesemiconductor plate 20, which is exposed at the memory cell arrayportion, the first conductive plate 9A, the p⁺ -type semiconductorregion 5B, and the surface portion of the semiconductor substrate 1which is exposed at the MISFET forming portion constructing theperipheral circuit. Those insulating films 11A and 11B may be so formedby the thermal oxidation to have a thickness of about 200 to 300 (Å)that the gate insulating films of the MISFET may be formed. After that,the gate electrodes 12 and the word lines (WL) 13, which areelectrically connected with the former and which extend in the columndirection, are formed over the insulating film 11A, and a gate electrode12A is formed over the insulating film 11B. As shown in FIGS. 59A and59B, moreover, the n⁺ -type semiconductor regions 14A are formed at thememory cell array portion on the semiconductor plate 20 through theinsulating film 11A at both the sides of the gate electrode 12.Simultaneously with this, at the MISFET portion constructing theperipheral circuit, n⁺ -type semiconductor regions 14B are formed on themain surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 through the insulatingfilm 11B at both the sides of the gate electrode 12A. Those regions maybe formed by the ion implantation using the gate electrode as a mask. Asa result, a MISFET Q₁ of the memory cell and a MISFET Q₂ constructingthe peripheral circuit are formed. Moreover, the semiconductor regions14A of the MISFET Q₁ are not extended and diffused at a deeper portionthan the thickness of the semiconductor plate 20.

After the step shown in FIGS. 59A and 59B, the insulating film 15 isformed all over the surface in a manner similar to that discussedearlier in this case. This insulating film 15 is made of aphosphosilicate glass (i.e., PSG) film. After that, the insulating films11A, 11B and 15 overlying the predetermined semiconductor regions 14Aand 14B are selectively removed to form connection holes 16 and 16A. Asshown in FIGS. 60A and 60B, moreover, the bit lines (BL) 17, which areelectrically connected with the semiconductor regions 14A through theconnection hole 16 and which extend in the row line over the insulatingfilm 15, and wires 17A, which are electrically connected with thesemiconductor regions 14B through the connection holes 16A, are formedover the insulating film 15.

After this, the PSG film and the silicon nitride film are formed by aplasma CVD method as the final protecting films.

The DRAM of the present embodiment is completed by the seriesfabrication steps thus far described.

By using the memory cells thus formed, the specific memory cell array isconstructed, as shown in FIG. 61.

FIG. 61 is a top plan view showing an essential portion of the schematicmemory cell array for explaining the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

The memory cell array is constructed by repeatedly arranging in a matrixform the patterns of the two memory cells shown in FIGS. 55A and 55B.Incidentally, for purposes of drawing simplification, FIG. 61 does notshow any insulating film formed between the individual conductivelayers.

Incidentally, the specific operations of the present embodiment aresubstantially similar to those of the foregoing embodiments, and theirdescriptions are omitted.

According to the present embodiment, effects similar to those found inthe devices shown in foregoing embodiments can be attained in the DRAMusing as the memory cell the series circuit of the storage capacitorelement and the MISFET by the moat technique. Since the MISFET can bearranged over the storage capacitor element, moreover, the area forforming the MISFET is not necessary so that the DRAM can be more highlyintegrated than in foregoing embodiments where this is not done.

In addition to the above advantage, since the MISFET can be arrangedover the storage capacitor element, the breakdown voltage in thebackward direction is not degraded by the possible junction which mightoccur in some of the foregoing embodiments between the n⁺ -typesemiconductor regions of the MISFET and the p⁺ -type semiconductorregion for providing the second conductive plate of the storagecapacitor element. As a result, it is possible to ensure highintegration of the DRAM.

Thanks to the provision of the MISFET on the semiconductor plate,furthermore, the unnecessary parasitic capacitance, which is caused bythe pn-junction between the semiconductor regions of the MISFET and thesemiconductor plate, can be reduced more than the case in which theMISFET is formed on the semiconductor substrate. This makes it possibleto reduce the unnecessary parasitic capacitance to be added to the bitlines so that the information writing and reading operations of the DRAMcan be conducted at a high speed.

Since the diffusion depth of the semiconductor regions of the MISFET canbe regulated in terms of the thickness of the semiconductor plate byproviding the MISFET on the semiconductor plate, furthermore, it ispossible to prevent the unnecessary diffusion of the impurity to theregion where the channel is to be formed and to ensure the effectivechannel length of the MISFET. This makes it possible to prevent theshort channel effect.

The structure and fabrication method of a eighteenth present embodimentwill be described in connection with the memory cell of the DRAM. Theeighteenth embodiment is one in which a third conductive plate 18 havinga fixed potential applied thereto is further formed over the firstconductive plate 9A of the seventeenth embodiment to increase andstabilize the capacitance.

FIG. 62A is a top plan view showing an essential portion of the DRAMmemory cell for explaining the specific structure of the eighteenthembodiment, and FIG. 62B is a sectional view taken along lineXXVII--XXVII of FIG. 62A. Incidentally, FIG. 62A does not show anyinsulating film between the individual conductive layers for purposes ofdrawing clarity.

Throughout all the figures of the eighteenth embodiment, incidentally,the portions having the same functions as those of the seventeenthembodiment are indicated with the same reference characters, and theirrepeated descriptions are omitted.

Indicated at reference characters 6A in FIG. 62B is an insulating filmwhich is formed to cover at least the first conductive plate 9A andwhich has a construction similar to that of the insulating film 6 toconstruct the storate capacitor element. This insulating film 6A isstored with the charges of the positive holes for the information by thefirst conductive plate 9A and a later-described third electrode (whichwill be called the "third conductive electrode"). Moreover, theinsulating film 6A electrically isolates the first conductive plates 9Aof the adjoining memory cells. Indicated at numeral 18 is the thirdconductive plate which is formed over the insulating film 6A and whichis connected and integrated with the third conductive plate of anothermemory cell in the common memory cell array to construct the storagecapacitor element. A fixed potential, e.g., the same potential as thatof the substrate is applied to that third conductive plate 18. Thestorage capacitor element of the memory cell is composed mainly of aparallel circuit of the capacitor C, which is composed of the firstconductive plate 9A, the semiconductor region 5B for providing thesecond conductive plate, and the insulating film 6, and a capacitor C₁which is composed of the first conductive plate 9A, the third conductiveplate 18 and the insulating film 6A. Indicated at characters 10B is aninsulating film which is formed to cover the third conductive plate 18thereby to electrically isolate the third conductive plate 18 and theword lines (WL) 13.

Next, the specific operations of the eighteenth embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in the following.

The operations of the present embodiment will be described in connectionwith the operations of a predetermined memory cell with reference toFIGS. 62A and 62B.

First of all, the description will be made in case the information is tobe written in the memory cell. A control voltage is selectively appliedto the gate electrodes 12 of the memory cell, which constructs theMISFET Q, to turn on this MISFET Q. After this, a voltage for theinformation is applied to the bit lines (BL) 17 which are electricallyconnected with the semiconductor regions 14 through the connection hole16. As a result, the voltage for the information at the bit lines (BL)17 is applied through the MISFET Q to the first conductive plate 9A. Thesemiconductor region 5B for providing the second conductive plate iselectrically connected with the semiconductor substrate 1 and is held atthe predetermined fixed potential V_(SS), and the third conductive plate18, for example, is held at the fixed potential V_(SS). If there is apotential difference between the potential of the second conductiveplate and the third conductive plate 18 and the voltage for theinformation applied to the first conductive plate 9A, more specifically,the charges for the information are stored in the insulating films 6 and6A at the intervening portions inbetween, namely, written in the storagecapacitor element C₁ of the memory cell.

In case the information is to be held in the memory cell, the MISFET Qmay be turned off in the state where the information is written in thestorage capacitor element C₁ of the memory cell.

In case the information of the memory cell is to be read out, on theother hand, it is sufficient to conduct the operations reversed from theabove writing operations.

According to the eighteenth embodiment, effects similar to those of theforegoing seventeenth embodiment can be obtained in the DRAM which usesas the memory cell the series circuit of the storage capacitor elementand the MISFET by the moat technique. By forming the third conductiveplate over the first conductive plate through the insulating film,moreover, the charges, which are stored in the first conductive plateand in the second conductive plate, and the charges by the first andthird conductive plate can be stored in the storage capacitor element.As a result, the quantity of the charges stored per unit area occupiedby the storage capacitor element can be augmented to about two times aslarge as that of the foregoing seventeenth embodiment so that higherintegration of the DRAM can be achieved.

By forming the third conductive plate at the fixed potential over thefirst conductive plate, on the other hand, the word lines, to which avarying control voltage is applied, can prevent the influences to beexerted upon the first conductive plate, to stabilize the quantity ofthe charges of the positive holes stored in the storage capacitorelement. As a result, the writing and reading operations of the DRAM canbe stabilized to ensure high reliability of the DRAM.

Next, the specific fabrication method of the eighteenth embodiment ofthe present invention will be described in the following.

FIGS. 63A to 65A are top plan view showing the essential portions of theDRAM memory cell at the respective fabrication steps for explaining thefabrication method of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 63B to 65B aresectional views taken along the cut lines of (A) of the correspondingfigures.

First of all, the moats 4 are formed in the memory cell array portion ofthe semiconductor substrate 1, and the p⁺ -type semiconductor region 5Bfor providing the second conductive plate is formed in the vicinity ofthe surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 and in the moats 4 in theexposed surface of the semiconductor substrate 1. Moreover, theinsulating film 6 of SiO₂ is formed all over the surface, and apolycrystalline silicon film 9B having a predetermined pattern isformed, as shown in FIGS. 63A and 63B, so as to form the firstconductive plate over the insulating film 6.

After the step shown in FIGS. 63A and 63B, the insulating film 6A, whichis preferably made of a layered film comprised of silicon nitridesandwiched between two layers of SiO₂, for example, is formed by a CVDmethod all over the surface. As shown in FIGS. 64A and 64B, moreover, apolycrystalline silicon film 18A having a predetermined pattern isformed so as to form the third conductive plate.

After the step shown in FIGS. 64A and 64B, thermal oxidation isconducted by using the nitride film of the insulating film 6A exposed toform the insulating film 10B all over the surface in a manner to coverthe polycrystalline silicon film 18A, and the insulating film 6A at aportion where the first conductive plate 9A and one semiconductor regionof the MISFET are to be connected is selectively removed to form theconnection hole 7A. After that, the p⁻ -type semiconductor plate 20 isformed over the insulating film 10B at a portion to be formed with thestorage capacitor element, and the unnecessary insulating films 10B, 6Aand 6 and the unnecessary polycrystalline silicon films 18A and 9B areselectively simultaneously removed with the semiconductor plate 20 toform the first conductive plate 9A and the third conductive plate 18, asshown in FIGS. 65A and 65B.

After the step shown in FIGS. 65A and 65B, the DRAM of the presentembodiment shown in FIGS. 62A and 62B is completed by executing thesteps subsequent to the step shown in FIGS. 59A and 59B.

After that, protecting films are formed like the foregoing embodiment.

By using memory cells thus formed, a specific memory cell array isconstructed, as shown in FIG. 66.

FIG. 66 is a top plan view showing an essential portion of the schematicmemory cell array for explaining the eighteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. This memory cell array is constructed by repeatedlyarraying the two memory cells shown in FIGS. 62A and 62B. Incidentally,for purposes of drawing simplification, FIG. 66 does not show anyinsulating film to be formed between the individual conductive layers.

The structure of a nineteenth embodiment will now be described inconnection with the memory cell of the DRAM, but the fabrication methodof the same is not described because it is substantially similar to thatof the foregoing seventeenth embodiment. The nineteenth embodiment isone in which the area required for the connection between the firstconductive plate and the semiconductor regions of the MISFET is reducedin comparison with the seventeenth embodiment to further increase theintegration and to facilitate alignment of the mask for theirconnection.

FIG. 67A is a top plan view showing an essential portion of the DRAMmemory cell for explaining the specific structure of the nineteenthembodiment, and FIG. 67B is a sectional view taken along lineXXXII--XXXII of FIG. 67A. Incidentally, for purposes of drawingsimplification, FIG. 67A does not show any insulating film to be formedbetween the individual conductive layers.

Indicated at reference characters 9C in FIGS. 67A and 67B is a firstconductive plate which is so formed over the insulating film 6 as tofill up the moats 4. That first conductive plate 9C has its uppersurface generally flattened. Indicated at characters 7B is a connectionhole which is formed by selectively removing the insulating film 10Boverlying the first conductive plate 9C to electrically connect thefirst conductive plate 9C and the MISFET.

According to the nineteenth embodiment, effects similar to those of theforegoing seventeenth embodiment are available in the DRAM using as thememory cell the series circuit of the storage capacitor element and theMISFET by the moat technique. Moreover, the area required for connectingthe storage capacitor element and the MISFET can be reduced byelectrically connecting them with the semiconductor regions overlyingthe first conductive plate buried in the moats. As a result, the DRAMcan be highly integrated.

Since the storage capacitor element and the MISFET are electricallyconnected with the semiconductor regions over the first conductive plateburied in the moats, moreover, it is possible to facilitate the maskalignment for their connection.

The following effects can be obtained in the DRAM using as the memorycell the series circuit of the storage capacitor element and the MISFETusing the moat techniques discussed above.

(1) The storage capacitor element can be composed of the insulatingfilm, which is formed in the predetermined main surface portion of thesemiconductor substrate and in the moats in the surface portion of thesemiconductor substrate; the first conductive plate which has its oneend formed over the insulating film and its other end connectedelectrically with one semiconductor region of the MISFET; and thesemiconductor region which is formed in the vicinity of thepredetermined surface of the semiconductor substrate and in the moats inthe vicinity of the surface of the semiconductor substrate for providingthe second conductive plate. As a result, the charges for theinformation can be stored at both the ends of the insulating film at theintervening portion between the first and second conductive plates, anda depletion region formed to extend from the moat portions into thesemiconductor substrate can be suppressed by the second conductive plae.This makes it possible to prevent coupling of the respective depletionregions between the adjoining storage capacitor elements and to preventthe leakage phenomena of the same.

(2) Since the leakage phenomena can be prevented, the leakage currentbetween the individual storage capacitor elements can be reduced. As aresult, the time period of the storage capacitor element for holding thecharges for the information can be improved to reduce the frequency ofthe rewriting operations. This makes it possible to improve theoperating time of the DRAM.

(3) The charges in the accumulation layer to be formed in theaccumulation region or in the narrow depletion region can be used as thecharges for the information, which are to be stored in the storagecapacitor element. As a result, the electrons, which are stored in thewide depletion layer or in the inversion layer region, need not be usedfor the information so that influences by the α-rays or unnecessaryminority carriers generated by the injection from peripheral circuitrycan be prevented.

(4) The storage capacitor element can have its occupying area reducedbecause it is unnecessary to consider the influences of the unnecessaryminority carriers generated by the α-rays. This makes it possible tohighly integrate the DRAM.

(5) By forming the third conductive plate through the insulating filmover the first conductive plate constructing the storage capacitorelement, it is possible to store both the charges to be stored in thefirst and second conductive plates and the charges by the first andthird conductive plates. This makes it possible to augment the chargestorage of the storage capacitor element per unit area.

(6) By using the semiconductor region to construct the storage capacitorelement for providing the second conductive plate, the memory cell ofthe DRAM can be electrically isolated from another memory cell adjoiningthereto in the row and/or column directions. As a result, the fieldinsulating film prepared by selectively thermally oxidizing thesemiconductor substrate can be dispensed with to ensure the highintegration of the DRAM.

(7) By forming the third conductive plate of the fixed potential overthe first conductive plate constructing the storage capacitor element,the word lines having a varying control voltage applied thereto canprevent influences from being exerted upon the first conductive plate tostabilize the quantity of the charges to be stored in the storagecapacitor element.

(8) Thanks to the foregoing effect (7), the writing and readingoperations of the DRAM can be stabilized to ensure high reliability ofthe DRAM.

(9) Since the semiconductor region of the first conduction typeconstructing the capacitor of the memory cell and the semiconductorregion of the second conduction type connected with the MISFET of thememory cell are spaced from each other, the reverse breakdown voltage ofthe junction is not degraded.

(10) By arranging the MISFET over the storage capacitor element, noadditional area of the substrate for the MISFET is required so that theDRAM can be highly integrated.

(11) By arranging the aforementioned MISFET over the storage capacitorelement, the semiconductor region of the first conduction typeconstructing the capacitor of the memory cell and the semiconductorregion of the second conduction type constructing the MISFET of thememory cell can be spaced from each other through the insulating film sothat the reverse breakdown voltage of the junction is not degraded.

(12) By forming the MISFET on the semiconductor plate, the unnecessaryparasitic capacitance, which is caused by the pn junction between thesemiconductor region of the first conduction type of the MISFET and thesemiconductor plate of the second conduction type can be made lower thanthe case in which the MISFET is formed on the semiconductor substrate.This makes it possible to reduce the unnecessary parasitic capacitance,which is to be added to the bit lines connected with the semiconductorregion, so that the information writing and reading operations of theDRAM can be speeded up.

(13) Since the diffusion depth of the semiconductor region of the MISFETcan be regulated in terms of the thickness of the semiconductor plate byforming the MISFET on the semiconductor plate, an effective channellength for the MISFET can be ensured without the necessity of diffusingan impurity in the region to be formed with the channel.

(14) By filling up the moats with the first conductive plate of thestorage capacitor element to electrically connect said first conductiveplate with the semiconductor region of the MISFET, the area required forconnecting the first conductive plate and the MISFET can be reduced toensure the high integration of the DRAM.

(15) Thanks to the foregoing effects (1) to (6), (10), (11) and (14),the area occupied by the memory cell can be remarkably reduced toprovide a multiplied effect that the high integration of the DRAM can befurther increased.

Although the present invention conceived by me has been specificallydescribed hereinbefore in connection with the embodiments thereof, itshould not be limited to the foregoing embodiments but can naturally bemodified in various manners without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, although the DRAM is constructed in the individualembodiments by making use of the p-type semiconductor substrate, ap-type well region may be formed in an n-type semiconductor substrate toconstruct the memory cell of the DRAM therein. Although the p-typesemiconductor regions are used as the second conductive plate forstoring the charges for the information in the foregoing individualembodiments, on the other hand, an n-type semiconductor substrate may beused so that the n-type semiconductor region may provide the secondconductive plate for storing the charges for the information. In thep-type semiconductor substrate, moreover, there may be formed an n-typewell region in which the memory cell of the DRAM is formed.

Although the descriptions of the foregoing three embodiments have beenmade in connection with the DRAM adopting the open bit line type, on theother hand, the folded bit line type may be adopted. Further, althoughthe description has been directed to using the present invention in aDRAM, it is possible to utilize the illustrated arrangement of theMISFET and capacitor in other ICs wherein such a series connection isutilized.

We claim:
 1. A semiconductor memory comprising:a plurality of memorycells, each of which memory cells includes an insulated-gatefield-effect transistor and a capacitor, wherein a source and a drain ofsaid insulated-gate field-effect transistor are formed within a firstpredetermined semiconductor region of a main surface of a substrate, andwherein said capacitor comprises: a first electrode region formed at asurface of a groove at a second predetermined semiconductor region ofsaid main surface of the substrate; a second electrode region formedwithin said groove as a data storage portion of said capacitor, saidsecond electrode region being connected to said source or drain of saidinsulated-gate field-effect transistor; and a first insulating filmformed within said groove between said first electrode and said secondelectrode; wherein said first electrode region is electrically separatedfrom said first predetermined semiconductor region so that a potentialof the first electrode region can be controlled independently frompotentials of said source and drain of said insulated-gate field-effecttransistor.
 2. A semiconductor memory according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst electrode regions of capacitors of said plurality of memory cellsare coupled to each other.
 3. A semiconductor memory according to claim2, wherein said first electrode regions of capacitors of said pluralityof memory cells are coupled to each other at the bottom of saidsubstrate.
 4. A semiconductor memory according to claim 3, wherein saidfirst electrode region is coupled to a predetermined potential.
 5. Asemiconductor memory according to claim 1, wherein said first insulatingfilm comprises a single layer of SiO₂.
 6. A semiconductor memoryaccording to claim 1, wherein said first insulating film comprises asingle layer of Si₃ N₄.
 7. A semiconductor memory according to claim 1,wherein said first insulating film comprises composite layer of SiO₂ andSi₃ N₄.
 8. A semiconductor memory according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst electrode region is coupled to a ground potential.
 9. Asemiconductor memory according to claim 1, wherein said second electroderegion comprises polycrystalline silicon.